JONES, JOHN PAUL American naval officer, was born in the parish of Kirkbean, stewartry of Kirkcudbright, Scotland, on the estate of Arbigland, belonging to Robert Craik, a member of parliament. His father, John Paul, was a landscape gardener in Craik's employ ; his mother, Jean Macduff, was the daughter of a highlander. When but 12 years of age the son was apprenticed to a ship-master and taken aboard a ship which car ried him to Virginia. Other voyages followed, gaining for the lad much sea experience. When his master failed, young John Paul obtained an acting midshipman's berth for a brief period in the royal navy. Then he engaged as third mate on a slave ship which carried him on two voyages between Jamaica and the Guinea coast. Next, he transferred to another slaver, this time as first mate, though but 19 years of age. After two years he became dis gusted with the slave trade, gave up his position, and took pas sage on board the ship "John" for England. On the way the cap tain and first mate both died of fever and John Paul took com mand and brought the vessel safely to port. Forthwith the owners made him master and supercargo of the ship. After he had made two voyages to Tobago for them, his employers dissolved partner ship. Paul, himself, purchased the "Betsey" and again sailed for Tobago. Investing all his money in a cargo there, the youthful owner intended to delay payment of his crew until his cargo had been sold, but the crew mutinied. After a struggle Paul killed the ringleader and left the ship. No admiralty court then sat in To bago and, rather than suffer imprisonment while awaiting his trial, he fled from the island.
There follows a period of obscurity. There are legends that to escape he was forced to board a pirate's ship on which he served for a time. In 1775, at any rate, he appeared in Philadelphia, call ing himself John Paul Jones, and in possession of a commission from the Continental Congress as a senior lieutenant in the new Continental navy. Indications are that he had spent much of his exile in Virginia, and through his friends there met Joseph Hewes, a member of the marine committee of Congress, who procured for him his commission. In his new employment his first task was to arm and man the ship "Alfred," which he commanded in the expe dition under Commander Hopkins against New Providence, in the Bahama Islands. Jones's familiarity with the island proved a large
factor in the success of the attack. In May 1776 Jones received command of the "Providence," and for a time did convoy duty for ships bringing supplies for the defence of New York. In August he received his captain's commission, which was followed by orders to undertake a free-lance cruise for "six weeks or two or three months." Such orders were most to the young captain's liking. In the seven weeks in which the "Providence" cruised between Bermuda and Nova Scotia, six brigantines, one ship and one sloop were taken, and six schooners, one ship and one brigan tine destroyed. In November, Jones again sailed for Newfound land in the "Alfred," but fog and ice greatly interfered with this cruise. Captain Hacker, in the "Providence," who was to go with him, gave up and returned soon after the start. Jones was blocked by the ice in his attempt to release the imprisoned Americans on the Isle Royale. Fish warehouses along the Arcadian coast were burned and four transports taken; on the way home a 16 gun pri vateer from Liverpool was captured, and a large armed transport carrying clothing and supplies for Burgoyne's army run down. When nearing the Boston harbour, Jones accidentally met the armed British frigate "Milford," but in the dark lured her away from his prizes and then cleverly outsailed her. He paid off the crews of the "Alfred" and "Providence" from his own pocket, re ceiving no reimbursement from Congress until after the war. Jones returned to find himself placed as low as 18 on a new list of navy commanders drawn up in Congress, a hard blow to his pride. The list had been a pathetic attempt to satisfy all colonies, each of which wanted representation. There followed a year of malad ministration, petty bickering and abortive schemes, while Jones chafed under the delay. Finally, he was given command of the "Ranger," which he altered into a fast ship, and on Nov. 1, 1777, sailed for France with despatches for the American commissioners announcing the surrender of Burgoyne. He crowded on the can vas, pausing only to take two prizes on the way.