John Paul Jones was born on the 6th of July, 1747, at Arbigland, in the parish of Kirkbean, Scotland. The residence of his father was near the shores of the Solway, one of the most beautiful and picturesque points of the Frith, where our young hero passed his hours of pastime in launching his “tiny bark” on the waters, and issuing to his supposed officers and crew his naval commands. At the age of twelve years, having made known his determination to lead a seafaring life, it was deemed proper to yield to it by his reluctant parents. Accordingly, he was apprenticed to a merchant at Whitehaven, on the opposite side of Solway Frith, in the American trade. He made his first voyage before he was thirteen, in the ship Friendship of Whitehaven, bound for the Rappahannock. His elder brother, William, had married and settled at Fredericksburg, in Virginia, where Jones found a happy home during his stay in America. Although his first visit was of but short duration, he appears to have become greatly prepossessed in favor of America. We have reason to believe that, after his second voyage in this brutalizing and unmanly traffic, he became disgusted and took a passage from the West Indies to Scotland in the John, of Kirkcudbright. The slave trade was then tolerated by Great Britain, and the cruel and infamous manner in which its unfortunate victims were treated, evidently exercised a strong influence upon the mind of the inexperienced young seaman, and it probably tended, in after life, to make him inconsiderate of justice as well as regardless of the sufferings of others. Nevertheless, it is fair to infer, that the exhibition of these horrors, at which his feelings revolted, strengthened his love for that liberty for which he afterwards fought, and for that land which knew how to vindicate the cause of liberty. On the passage to Scotland, in the John, the master and mate both died of the yellow fever, and Jones took the command of the vessel, and brought her safely into port. For this service the owners placed him on board the same vessel as master and super-cargo. He then made two prosperous voyages to the West Indies, at the end of which, he was honorably discharged on account of the dissolution of the firm to which the vessel No man appeared better qualified for the part he had to perform. Nature had made him a hero, and circumstances had prepared him to command men, as well as to give direction to the development of their energies; and these qualifications united with a brave heart and chivalrous spirit, rendered him able to vindicate the rights, which he knew so well how to assert. The American navy at this time consisted of the following vessels:
Jones, who had been appointed lieutenant of the flag ship, Alfred, hoisted with his own hands the first American flag that ever waved over the ocean. He does not give the date of this transaction, but his commission dates 7th of December, 1775. The device was a pine tree, with a rattlesnake coiled at its root in the act of striking. This was the national insignia until 1777, when the present standard was adopted. On the 17th of February, 1776, the first American squadron sailed for the West Indies. During the passage they captured two small vessels, and made preparations for the capture of the island of New Providence, where a large quantity of stores and ammunition was deposited. The enterprise succeeded, the island was captured, the governor taken prisoner; also a hundred cannon and a large quantity of stores and ammunition fell into their hands. In October, 1776, when the grade of naval captains was established by Congress, he received a full commission as one of the number. Having now acquired the entire confidence of the marine committee of Congress, he repaired to France to arrange some naval operations with the American commissioners. His next voyage was to Whitehaven, in the north of England, where, with a few men, he spiked all the cannon of two of the forts, the sentinels being first secured in their own guard-house. This and similar rapacious attacks, he justified upon the principle of retaliation for the destruction of private property In September, 1779, he fell in with the Serapis, off Flamborough-head, on the northeast coast of England, where that celebrated action took place, in view of hundreds of inhabitants of the neighboring coast, which has imparted so much renown to the name of Jones. The Serapis was a new ship, of forty-four guns and a picked crew. It was a clear, moonlight night, about seven o’olock, when the enemy first hailed Jones, who answered with a whole broadside. The action, which lasted several hours, raged with incessant fury, until the enemy’s bowsprit coming over the poop of the Bon On his arrival in France, Jones was received with the most flattering attention by the most distinguished persons in Paris. Louis the Sixteenth presented him with the cross of military merit, and a magnificent gold mounted sword, bearing this inscription: “Maris Ludovicus 16 Remunerator Strenuo Vindici.” He returned to America in the ship Ariel of twenty guns, after an absence of nearly three years. Congress immediately adopted the following resolutions:— “Resolved,—That the Congress entertain a high sense of the distinguished bravery and military conduct of John Paul Jones, Esq., captain in the navy of the United States, and particularly in his victory over the British frigate Serapis, on the coast of England, which was attended with circumstances so brilliant as to excite general applause and admiration. “Resolved,—That a gold medal (see Plate VIII.) be struck and presented to the Chevalier Paul Jones, in commemoration of the valor and brilliant services of that officer; and that the Hon. Mr. Jefferson, minister plenipotentiary of the United States at the court of Versailles, have the same executed in France with proper devices.” Late in the year of 1787 he returned to Europe in order to DESCRIPTION OF THE MEDAL.Occasion.—Capture of the English frigate Serapis, Captain Pearson, by the Bon Homme Richard, Captain John Paul Jones. Device.—Head of John Paul Jones. Legend.—Joanni Paulo Jones classis prefecto comitia Americana. Reverse.—Two frigates engaged yard-arm and yard-arm; the English ship severely battered in the sides. Another ship lying across the bow of the British frigate. Legend.—Hostium navibus captis aut frigatis. Exergue.—Ad nam ScotiÆ, 23d September, 1778. |