JONES, Jolts PAUL (ante), 1747-92, b. Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. His name was properly John Paul, that of Jones being afterwards assumed by him for a reason not givel. At the age of 12 he was apprenticed to a merchant of Whitehaven engaged in the American trade, and soon went to sea in a vessel bound for Virginia. While in port he staid with his brother who was settled as a planter, improving his leisure in study, especially of navigation. The affairs of his merchant employer being embar rassed, his indentures were canceled, and he was almost immediately engaged as third mate of a slaver. In 1766, at the age of 19, he was received as chief mate to a slaver of Jamaica, but after a few voyages abandoned this life in disgust, and in 1768 sailed for Scotland as a passenger in a brigantine, but the master and mate dying on the voyage, Paul assumed command, and brought the vessel safely into port. For this service the own ers, in 1768, made him captain and supercargo, and sent him to the West Indies. In a second voyage he was involved in difficulty with the carpenter, whom lie was obliged to punish for mutiny and disrespect, and who afterwards joined another vessel, took fever, and died; his death was ascribed to the punishment inflicted by his commander. Paul was tried and honorably acquitted. He made his last visit to Scotland in 1771 where he was looked upon with distrust on account of his alleged cruelty to the carpenter. He continued after this in the West India trade, acquiring quite a fortune by commercial speculations. In 1773 he went to Virginia to settle the affairs of his brother, who had died intestate and childless, and rornained on the estate which had fallen to him, devot ing himself to agriculture. The American revolution now breaking out, having iden tified himself with the colonies, lie offered himself to congress to serve in the navy, was. accepted, commissioned as lieutenant, Dec. 23, 1775, and appointed first lieutenant of the Alfred, flag-ship. When the commander came on board Jones hoisted the American flag, now for the first time displayed, and bearing, it is believed, the device of a pine tree with a rattlesnake coiled at its root. From the Alfred he was transferred to the sloop Providence, in which he cruised among the West India islands, and in 47 days made 16 prizes, and destroyed the fishery at Isle Madam and Canso. Having finished this cruise he was put in command of the Alfred and Providence as captain, and sailed Nov. 2, 1776, from Newport, on an expedition to destroy the cape Breton fishery, capture the coal fleet, and liberate a hundred Americans confined at hard labor in the mines. The expe dition was successful, four prizes being brought to Boston. In June, 1776, Jones was.
invested with the command of the Ranger, a new ship built for the service, and sailed Nov. 1, stopped in France to confer with the American commissioners, and then made a cruise upon the n. coast of England, seized the fort of Whitehaven, spiked its guns, burned some of the shipping, and kept England and Scotland in constant alarm. He conceived the project of capturing the earl of Selkirk on his fine estate near Kirkcud bright, in order to compel England to adopt a general system of exchange of prisoners, but this failed on account of the absence of the earl. His crew, however, stole the family plate, which Jones bought of them and restored. During this cruise on the Eng lish coast he captured the Drake, a superior vessel sent out to take him, and took her into Brest with 200 prisoners. lie was cordially received by the American commission ers, and after much delay was appointed to the command of the ship Duras, changing the name to Bon Homme Richard. In 1779 he set out with a squadron of 5 vessels for the coast of Scotland, causing more terror among the inhabitants than before. He. threatened to burn every ship in the harbor, but a strong wind drove him out to sea. Turning his course southward, he fell in with the British fleets of 41 sail, off Flambor ough head, homeward bound from the Baltic, convoyed by two powerful men-of-war, the Serape's and the Countess of Scarborough. After a desperate and bloody battle of three hours the Serapis was captured, and the Bon Homnie Richard was so damaged that it went to the bottom two days afterwards. For this splendid victory he was, on his arrival in Paris, presented by Louis XVI. with a gold-mounted sword bearing a flatter ing inscription, was invested with the cross of the order of military merit, and greatly honored by the government, the court, and the citizens. On his return to America con gress voted him a splendid gold medal, and passed a resolution commending his " zeal, prudence, and intrepidity." He received also a very complimentary letter from gen. Washington. At the conclusion of peace Jones went to Paris as American agent for prize-money. In 1787 he entered the Russian service with the title of rear-admiral, and performed valuable services against the Turks; but on account of the jealousies and intrigues of the Russian officers he resigned, though strongly urged by Catherine t-o remain. He returned to France, and died of the dropsy. Ile was not, as has been said, a prey to want and neglect, but had the attendance of the queen's physician, was cheered by the presence of several kind friends, and honored with a public funeral by the national assembly.