The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-08-06
ANNIVERSARY OF JOHN
PAUL JONES is RECALLED
Born In Scotland in 1747, He
Came To America In 1878

In the little parish of Kirkbean in
Scotland, one of Americas greatest
heroes was born July 6, 1747. His
family name was Paul and he was
christened John. Later in life he was
to add Jones to his name and become
famous as a commander in the Con-
tinental navy whose brilliant achieve
ments on the sea rivaled those of Gen.
George Washington on the land.
The 184th anniversary of John
Paul Jones' birthday is marked as a
date of significance to all Americans
by the Division of Information and
Publication of the United States
George Washington Bicentennial Com
mission. Every citizen of the United
States has reason to begrateful for the
services of the first great American
sea fighter.
Young John Paul went to sea whcn
he was but IL years old, and at the
age of 81 he was captain of a trader
In 1773 he came to America and set
tied on his brothers plantation in Vir-
ginia which he had inherited upon the
death of the latter. 1t was here that
he first used the name of Jones.
When the break between England
and her colonies widened into actual
warfare, Jones applied to Congress
for a naval commission which was
granted in December, ITS. That same
month, as a lieutenant in the new
Continental navy, he is said to have
hoisted with his own hands the first
naval flag of an American squadron.
This was the well-known yellow silk
banner with the rattlesnake and the
warning, "Don't tread on me!'
The young officer soon was given an
independent commission in command
Of the little ship Providence" With
a crew of but seventy men ard a
dozen four-pound guns, Jones became
a terror to British shipping, destroy
ing a million dollars worth of enemy
property. Later, in the alfred" he
continued his work, capturing valua-
BILE munitions intended for Burgoyne.
He was commissioned captain Octo-
Der 10, 1776, and June ID, 1776, was
ordered to the Ranger" On this
ship, July 4, he raised the first stars
and stripes that ever flew from an
American warship. In the Ranger
he carried to France the news of Bur
goyne's surrender and received the
States flag by a foreign fleet.
From France Jones sailed to the
north coast of England where he land
ed at Whitehaven, spiked the English
guns, burned some shipping and
thoroughly alarmed the country. This
was the only invasion of British terri
tory by an American force during the
Revolutionary War.
The most famous battle in which he
was engaged was that which took
place September %, 1779, with the
British man of war "Serapis," off
Marlborough Head. At that time
Jones was in command of an ancient
ship which he had refitted in France
and named "Bon Homme Richard, "
in honor of Benjamin Franklin. De-
spite the great odds against him the
intrepid American unhesitatingly en-
gagged the far superior enemy in a
battle which has gone down in history
as one of the greatest sea fights of all
time.
The rotten sides of the American
ship were almost completely shot
away when the English commander
called on Jones to surrender. In re-
ply he received the terse statement
81 have not begun to fight" Utterly
dismayed at such courage, the Eng
lishman struck his colors. Jones at
once transferred his crew to the "Se-
rapis" and the "Bon Homme Rich
ard" completely shattered, sank to
her glorious grave.
After the Revolution, John Paul
Jones entered the service of Catherine
of Russia, where he again revealed
his remarkable courage and ability as
sea fighter. Being the victim OF
intrigue by jealouse Russian officers,
Jones left that country and went to
France where he died July 10, 1892.
In 1905 his body was located and iden-
titled by the American ambassador to
France. 1t was brought to this coun'
try and inferred with full military
honors at the United States Naval
Academy at Annapolis.
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