Portrait of John Paul Jones by Charles Willson Peale, 1781

John Paul Jones (born John Paul; July 6, 1747 – July 18, 1792) was a Scottish American naval captain who was a naval commander in the American Revolutionary War. Often called the "Father of the American Navy", a title sometimes also credited to John Barry, John Adams, and sometimes Joshua Humphreys, Jones is highly regarded as one of the greatest naval commanders in the history of the United States.

Jones was a Freemason, and made many friends among U.S. political elites, including John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, and even his enemies, who accused him of piracy. His actions in British waters during the American Revolutionary War earned him an international reputation that endures to this day. (Full article...) Read more ...