This video is by Liberty's kids
John Paul Jones was born on July 6th, 1747, in Kirkbean, Kirkcudbright, Scotland. John was the fourth child born in his family. His father's name was John as well, and he was a gardner. His mother's name was Jean MacDuff. Even though his family wasn't poor, they were still considered working class.
In 1761, when he was 14, he lacked the "connections" needed to get a good career, so he became an apprentice mariner. He was an apperentice for John Younger, which he had committed seven years to. John Younger was a merchant that was operating near an English port where John Paul Jones lived. His first voyage was to Fredericksburg, Virginia. He visited his older brother, who had come to America earlier. Then he went on more voyages to England, the West Indies, and the Chesapeake until 1764, when John Younger went bankrupt. John Paul Jones was then released from apperenticeship.
A few years after he was released, he then went and worked on ships that were involved in the African Slave Trade. The job was the most dangerous and undesirable job at the time. He disliked the job a lot, but he tried and made the most of it. In 1768, when he was 21, he left on the slaving boat called Two Friends, he was cheif mate of the boat. He sailed to Jamacia and left the boat, Two Friends, there.
He gained command of a brig called, John, when the captain and cheif mate died of a diesease during a voyage. He took control of the brig because he was a navigator. He navigated the boat safely to Kirkcudbright, Scotland. Then, in 1777, John was given command of a boat named the Bonhomme Richard, that had just barely been built. He sailed to France, and took the war to the British Isles. Then, in 1778, he and his crew captured a British war ship named the Drake.
Later, he fought a British ship named, Serapis. It was a three and a half hour war between the two ships. Near the end John's ship was sinking and the Serapis was on fire. The British ship's captain asked John if he wanted to surrender yet. John told the captain that he hadn't even began to fight yet. In the end, the Serapis surrendered. John Paul Jones and his crew gained control over the Serapis and John's ship sunk. He was honored in France for the defeat, but not so much in the United States.
My opinion on John Paul Jones is that I learned a lot about John Paul Jones, that I didn't know about, by researching and writing this page. I learned about the great three and a half hour battle between the Bonhomme Richard, and the Serapis. I am still amazed that John Paul Jones and his crew won! By the way the battle was described, it sounded as if John Paul Jones was going to end up surrendering because of what was happening. I hope you learned a lot more about John Paul Jones now that you have read this page.
In 1761, when he was 14, he lacked the "connections" needed to get a good career, so he became an apprentice mariner. He was an apperentice for John Younger, which he had committed seven years to. John Younger was a merchant that was operating near an English port where John Paul Jones lived. His first voyage was to Fredericksburg, Virginia. He visited his older brother, who had come to America earlier. Then he went on more voyages to England, the West Indies, and the Chesapeake until 1764, when John Younger went bankrupt. John Paul Jones was then released from apperenticeship.
A few years after he was released, he then went and worked on ships that were involved in the African Slave Trade. The job was the most dangerous and undesirable job at the time. He disliked the job a lot, but he tried and made the most of it. In 1768, when he was 21, he left on the slaving boat called Two Friends, he was cheif mate of the boat. He sailed to Jamacia and left the boat, Two Friends, there.
He gained command of a brig called, John, when the captain and cheif mate died of a diesease during a voyage. He took control of the brig because he was a navigator. He navigated the boat safely to Kirkcudbright, Scotland. Then, in 1777, John was given command of a boat named the Bonhomme Richard, that had just barely been built. He sailed to France, and took the war to the British Isles. Then, in 1778, he and his crew captured a British war ship named the Drake.
Later, he fought a British ship named, Serapis. It was a three and a half hour war between the two ships. Near the end John's ship was sinking and the Serapis was on fire. The British ship's captain asked John if he wanted to surrender yet. John told the captain that he hadn't even began to fight yet. In the end, the Serapis surrendered. John Paul Jones and his crew gained control over the Serapis and John's ship sunk. He was honored in France for the defeat, but not so much in the United States.
My opinion on John Paul Jones is that I learned a lot about John Paul Jones, that I didn't know about, by researching and writing this page. I learned about the great three and a half hour battle between the Bonhomme Richard, and the Serapis. I am still amazed that John Paul Jones and his crew won! By the way the battle was described, it sounded as if John Paul Jones was going to end up surrendering because of what was happening. I hope you learned a lot more about John Paul Jones now that you have read this page.
Two Questions:
1. What was the name of the British ship John Paul Jones fought for three and a half hours?
A: Paul
B: A boat
C: Serapis
D: Chocolate
2. What was the name of the ship John Paul Jones was given in 1777?
A: Bonhomme Richard
B: Drake
C: Younger
D: Sweetcakes
1. What was the name of the British ship John Paul Jones fought for three and a half hours?
A: Paul
B: A boat
C: Serapis
D: Chocolate
2. What was the name of the ship John Paul Jones was given in 1777?
A: Bonhomme Richard
B: Drake
C: Younger
D: Sweetcakes
By: Mercedes Ross