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PiratesNaval
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1747, Jul 61770s-1780s1792, Jul 18
a Scottish American sailor and the United States' first well-known naval fighter in the American Revolutionary War. Although he made both friends and enemies among America's political elites, his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to this day. As such, he is sometimes referred to as the "Father of the United States Navy" (an epithet he shares with John Barry). He later served in the Imperial Russian Navy, subsequently obtaining the rank of rear admiral.
 Timeline (7)
06/14/1777-John Paul Jones is chosen by Congress to captain the 18 gun vessel Ranger with his mission to raid coastal towns of England
11/02/1777-John Paul Jones sets sail
04/10/1778-John Paul Jones sets out to raid British ships
04/22/1778-John Paul Jones leads American raid on Whitehaven, England
04/23/1778-John Paul Jones burns Whitehaven, England
09/23/1779-John Paul Jones' Bonhomme Richard defeats HMS Serepis in English waters
07/18/1792-Naval hero John Paul Jones dies in Paris
 Notes (1)
The Pirates' Who's Who:
(P. Gosse, 1924)
Probably few persons, even in Great Britain, would to-day call Paul Jones a pirate, but this was not always the case. In all books on pirates written shortly after the American war, Paul Jones figured as a notorious character.

This famous privateer, let us c...
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 Quotes (9) • View in Quotations
A navy is essentially and necessarily aristocratic. True as may be the political principles for which we are now contending they can never be practically applied or even admitted on board ship, out of port, or off soundings. This may seem a hardship, but it is nevertheless the simplest of truths. Whilst the ships sent forth by the Congress may and must fight for the principles of human rights and republican freedom, the ships themselves must be ruled and commanded at sea under a system of absolute despotism.
An honorable Peace is and always was my first wish! I can take no delight in the effusion of human Blood; but, if this War should continue, I wish to have the most active part in it.
I have not yet begun to fight!
I may sink, but I'll be damned if I strike!
I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way.
If fear is cultivated it will become stronger, if faith is cultivated it will achieve mastery.
It seems to be a law of nature, inflexible and inexorable, that those who will not risk cannot win.
Where men of fine feeling are concerned there is seldom misunderstanding.
Whoever can surprise well must conquer.
 Contemporaries
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John Paul Jones1747, Jul 61770
 
17891792, Jul 18

Edward Mackdonaldunknown1770
 
17791772, Mar 11
 One of Lowther’s crew in the “Happy Delivery.” Hanged on the island of St. Kitts, March 11,...
La Marquise de Fresneunknown1680
 
178unknown
 Female pirate. Active late 1600's, Mediterranean Pirate
Captain James Missonunknown1690
 
1781694
 The account of Captain Misson is highly disputed by historians. He is described in the 2nd volume...
George Wallunknown1781
 
 
17821782
 a Boston fisherman, former privateer who served in the Revolutionary War, and husband of and co-p...
Thomas Truxtun1755, Feb 171775
 
 
17831822, May 5
 an American naval officer after the Revolutionary War, when he served as a privateer, who rose to...
Alexander Whiteunknown1784
 
 
17841784
 Hanged for piracy in Cambridge, Massachusetts in November 1784.
Esek Hopkins1718, Apr 261740
 
17861802, Feb 26
  the only Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He wa...
Maurycy Beniowski1746, Sep 201762
 
17861786, May 23
 a Hungarian nobleman of Polish and Hungarian ancestry. He was an explorer, writer, the self-decla...
Goole Janfe Schelvisunknown1780
 
1789unknown
 Dutch privateer in the eighteenth century. He was the captain of the ship the Vliegende Vis. He c...
J.W. Sextrohunknown1780
 
1789unknown
 Sextroh, who lived in Zierikzee, was active as a privateer in the eighteenth century. A highly co...
Daniel Verbaanunknown1780
 
1789unknown
 A Dutch privateer in the eighteenth century. He was born in Ter Heyde and was Captain on the Dapp...
Rachel Wall1760 ca1781
 
17891789, Oct 8
 an American female pirate, and the last woman to be hanged in Massachusetts. She may also have be...
Jan Lensunknown1700
 
179unknown
 Dutch privateer in the 18th century. Sold one of the prizes he captured, together with Erasmus Mu...
Erasmus Mullerunknown1700
 
179unknown
 Dutch privateer in the 18th century. Sold one of the prizes he captured, together with Jan Lens, ...
Captain Joseph Thwaitesunknown1760
 
17971797
 Coxswain to Captain Hood, he was promoted in 1763 to be a midshipman in H.M.S. Zealous, cruising ...
Jonathan Haradenunknown1745
 
1803unknown
 Privateer
Stephen Decatur Sr.1751, Jun1770
 
18091808, Nov 11
 an American naval captain in the Revolutionary War and later in the Quasi-War. He was the father ...
George Lowtherunknown1720
 
1811723
 an 18th-century English pirate who, although little is known of his life, was active in the Carib...
Joshua Barneyunknown1759
 
1818unknown
 an American Navy officer who served in the Continental Navy during the Revolutionary War. He late...
Jose Gaspar17561783
 
18211821
 a purported Spanish pirate, the "last of the Buccaneers," who is claimed to have raided the west ...
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