December 10

John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy (2003)
By Evan Thomas

One of the best biographies and most interesting stories I've read, not only is John Paul Jones an important character in terms of his drive, genius, and willingness to champion the cause of liberty - teamed with his character flaws - but his story is an open window into the birthing of the navy and the nation.

John Paul was a gardener's son, who grew up on the Scottish estate where his father was employed.  He resented being the gardener's son and was eager to move up in society, early thinking he would make his mark as a sailor.  He added "Jones" to his name and joined the Masons as a way to make connections (George Washington himself was a Mason).  He resented the fact that titled men received naval commissions based on their title and wealth and that all others had to work their way up the ranks.  As Jones worked his way up to commanding a ship, one of his first assignments was a slave ship, a job he later (and probably at the time) considered a blot on his record.  Despite his skills, however, he got into some trouble with disciplining a couple of crew members and often strafed against authority.

Jones had an older brother, William Paul, who had immigrated to the Virginia colony, and John made frequent trips there.  He wanted to help the colonists' cause and volunteered with the Continental Navy, eventually given command of a couple of ships, including the USS Providence, and later and more famously, the Bonhomme Richard, the ship that he captained to great victory over much larger English vessels.

Unlike most ship captains, he wanted to work for the good of the colonies - not for personal gain.  Typically, American privateers entered the war to attack other ships and take "prizes" (the cargo and goods from the other ship).  Jones's first allegiance was to the colonies.  After the war, however, he found himself unemployed, and sought service as an admiral in the Russian navy.  He died in Paris in 1792, and was buried there.  Much later, he was officially recognized as the father of the American navy; his body was exhumed and reinterred at the US Naval Academy in 1905.  Finally, Jones received the credit and attention he sought all through his life.