The “Father of the American Navy” died penniless in Paris, lost and forgotten for over a century

John Paul Jones’ Immortal Battle Cry Off Yorkshire

On September 23, 1779, Captain John Paul Jones faced certain defeat aboard his sinking warship off England’s coast. When the British demanded surrender, Jones shouted back “I have not yet begun to fight!”

He won that brutal night battle but lost his ship. Jones eventually died broke in Paris, forgotten in an unmarked grave for over a century.

Then Ambassador Horace Porter spent six years digging through Parisian cemeteries to bring America’s naval hero home. Here’s the story behind the John Paul Jones Memorial in Washington, DC, where you can honor this legendary fighter.

Five Ships Sailed From France on a Daring Mission

John Paul Jones led his ships out of France on August 14, 1779, with Bonhomme Richard as his main vessel.

On September 23, they spotted 40 British merchant ships guarded by HMS Serapis with 50 guns under Captain Richard Pearson and the smaller Countess of Scarborough.

Jones ordered an attack even though the British had better guns. People gathered on the Yorkshire cliffs as darkness fell to watch the sea battle.

The Sun Set as Cannons Roared to Life

Around 6 PM, Captain Pearson shouted across the water, “What ship is that? ” Jones stalled by yelling back, “I can’t hear you!” to hide his American identity until ready to attack. Pearson got tired of waiting and warned he would fire unless Jones answered.

At 7 PM, both ships fired their cannons at the same time, tearing holes in each other’s wooden hulls. The British ship quickly showed it had better guns and handling.

Jones Watched His Ship Fall Apart Around Him

Serapis pounded the American ship with its heavy 18-pounder guns, causing terrible damage. Two of Bonhomme Richard’s biggest guns blew up, killing gunners and wounding Jones.

Water rushed in through the broken hull, rising five feet deep in the lower decks. Jones knew his ship couldn’t match the faster, better-armed British vessel.

The American ship looked ready to sink as the British kept firing from all sides.

Three Words Changed the Course of Naval History

Captain Pearson called out, “Has your ship struck? ” thinking victory was certain as the American ship burned and sank.

Jones fired back: “I have not yet begun to fight! ” His crew found new courage in their captain’s refusal to quit.

Jones told his men to board the enemy ship while water rose beneath their feet. Five times they tried to get onto the British vessel, and five times they failed.

A Lucky Break Turned the Tide of Battle

During the sixth boarding try, Serapis’ jibboom caught in Bonhomme Richard’s rigging. Jones saw his chance and shouted, “We’ve got her now!” He ordered his crew to tie the ships together with ropes.

Pearson dropped anchor hoping to break free, but this only locked the vessels together bow to stern. Men fought hand-to-hand across the joined decks as muskets fired and swords clashed.

One Sailor’s Bold Move Sealed the Victory

At 9:30 PM, an American sailor climbed high into the rigging and dropped a grenade onto Serapis’ gun deck. The blast set off a stack of British gunpowder cartridges in a massive chain reaction.

More than 30 British sailors died or fell stunned in an instant. Five British guns stopped firing as flames spread through their ship.

Lieutenant Michael Stanhope jumped overboard to cool his burns before climbing back to keep fighting.

Both Sides Paid a Terrible Price for Victory

Captain Pearson lowered his flag and gave up Serapis around 10:30 PM after fighting for three and a half hours. American losses were huge: about 150 killed and wounded from a crew of 380.

British losses reached 117, including many killed by the grenade blast. Jones moved his living crew to the captured Serapis as Bonhomme Richard kept filling with water.

The Alliance captured the smaller Countess of Scarborough, making the American win complete.

America’s Hero Died Alone in a Paris Apartment

Jones died broke in Paris on July 18, 1792, at just 45 years old from kidney disease. His French Protestant friends buried him in a lead coffin filled with alcohol to keep his body from rotting.

Gouverneur Morris, the American ambassador, refused to pay for a proper burial. Jones was placed in Saint-Louis Cemetery for foreign Protestants.

The French government sold the cemetery in 1796, and people forgot where Jones was buried as new buildings covered the site.

One Man’s Stubborn Search Lasted Six Years

U. S. Ambassador Horace Porter started looking for Jones in June 1899 after learning nobody had tried hard before. He spent years going through old papers, burial records, and cemetery maps all over Paris.

Porter figured out that Saint-Louis Cemetery was likely where Jones was buried. Land prices went up when word got out about the search.

He paid $35,000 from his own pocket after Congress gave no money.

Workers Tunneled Through Paris to Find a Lost Hero

Mining engineer Paul Weiss began digging on February 3, 1905, sinking five shafts through buildings that now stood over the old cemetery.

His team tunneled under basements and streets, finding scattered bones and dead animals along the way. They found a lead coffin on April 7, 1905, amazingly well-preserved after 113 years underground.

The mummified body matched Jones’ height, age, and physical description from old records. French doctors confirmed the identity by comparing the face to a famous bust made by sculptor Houdon.

A Naval Legend Finally Came Home to Rest

President Theodore Roosevelt sent four warships to bring Jones back to America.

The French held grand ceremonies on July 6, 1905, Jones’ birthday, with high-ranking officials attending. USS Brooklyn carried the remains across the Atlantic in a special casket with silver handles.

Jones was finally laid to rest in a marble tomb at the Naval Academy Chapel in 1913 after being kept in a temporary vault.

The forgotten naval hero became a national symbol thanks to Porter’s determination and Roosevelt’s grand homecoming.

Visiting John Paul Jones Memorial in Washington, DC

You’ll find the John Paul Jones Memorial at the intersection of 17th Street SW and Independence Avenue SW in West Potomac Park.

This free outdoor memorial is open 24 hours and features a 10-foot bronze statue by Charles Henry Niehaus on a 15-foot marble base. The famous inscription reads “Surrender? I Have Not Yet Begun to Fight! ” from his naval battle.

The memorial has dolphin fountains and military symbols carved into the marble, just steps from the World War II Memorial and Washington Monument.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• How a potato-stealing pig caused America and Britain to aim cannons at each other for 12 years
• Visiting Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula for a true summer wilderness escape
• How Spanish fur traders ended decades of Osage attacks on Missouri’s oldest European town in the 1700s