Often referred to as the "Father of the American Navy", Jones is regarded by several commentators as one of the greatest naval commanders in the military history of the United States. After killing a mutinous subordinate, he fled to the British colony of Virginia to avoid being arrested and in c. During the ensuing war with Great Britain , Jones participated in several naval engagements with the British Royal Navy. Commanding the warship Ranger , Jones conducted a naval campaign in the North Sea , attacking British merchant shipping and other civilian targets.
As part of the campaign, he raided the English town of Whitehaven , won the North Channel Naval Duel and fought at the Battle of Flamborough Head , gaining him an international reputation.
Left without a command in , Jones joined the Imperial Russian Navy and rose to the rank of rear admiral. However, after he was accused of raping a year-old girl, Katerina Stepanova, he was forced out of the Russian navy and soon died in Paris at the age of A Freemason , Jones made many friends among U.
John Paul, as he was then known, was born on the estate of Arbigland near Kirkbean in the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright on the southwest coast of Scotland. His parents had married on November 29, , in New Abbey , Kirkcudbrightshire. John Paul started his maritime career when he was 13, sailing out of Whitehaven in the northern English county of Cumberland as apprentice aboard Friendship under Captain Benson. Virginia was the destination of many of the younger Paul's voyages.
For several years, Paul served in the British Merchant Navy , sailing aboard several merchantmen and slave ships , including the King George in age 17 as third mate and Two Friends as first mate in age He found his own passage back to Scotland and eventually obtained another position. John Paul's career was quickly and unexpectedly advanced during his next voyage aboard the brig John , which sailed from port in , when both the captain and a ranking mate suddenly died of yellow fever.
