John Paul Jones Memorial

John Paul Jones, a recent Scottish immigrant, accepted an appointment in the new Continental Navy after the start of the American Revolution, captained several ships during the war, and became a celebrated hero. Fearless even against the superior British Royal Navy, he secured a lasting place in American memory. In 1779, while commanding the Bonhomme Richard, he captured H.M.S. Serapis in a spectacular and bloody engagement fought within view of the British shore. Known to the British as "the pirate, Paul Jones," his exploits showed British citizens that they were not immune from the effects of war, and his rise to fame became a familiar story to immigrants who succeeded through personal achievement rather than inherited right of birth. His greatest contribution to American independence may have been becoming a hero at the moment the cause most needed one.

Washington, District of Columbia · United States