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Back to Podcast EpisodesJohn Paul Jones-American Admiral, (Volume 1, Podcast 1)
John Paul Jones, Admiral and Patriot
Considered a hero of the American Revolution, John Paul Jones was born in Scotland, carried out most of his naval exploits in the British Isles and died in Paris. His most famous encounter, a victory over the British warship, HMS Serapis, took place off of the coast of Yorkshire, England, thousands of miles from the American colonies.
It is now a matter of historical debate as to when or even if John Paul Jones actually uttered the famous phrase “I have not yet begun to fight”. But if there ever was a moment for him to say it, now was the time. Some of his crew members, fully aware of the damage done below, unlocked the dozens of British prisoners on the verge of drowning in the hold, clambered on to the deck and not seeing the captain began to shout for quarter from the other side. Paul Jones was intent on knocking down the Serapis’ main mast with his personally manned nine pound gun. Upon hearing his own crew attempting to surrender he first tried to shoot at them with an unloaded pistol and then hurled it as the startled sailors fled below deck. Knowing his fate to be either imprisonment or even the noose, the captain had clearly adopted a much more modern outlook. Failure was not an option. Hearing the commotion, Pearson asked if the American ship had struck. Most likely Paul Jones’ response was not as theatrical as chronicled but he certainly made it clear that he would rather sink than surrender.
The American ambassador, Gouverneur Morris, found John Paul Jones to be a tiresome pest. However, when he received a message in Jul
Published on 10 years, 6 months ago