Historedia
Person

John Paul Jones

Events
2
Episodes
10
Years
1775–1780

Every event in Historedia whose sources name John Paul Jones, with the role they cite and all of that event’s episodes. This is not a biography, and mentions are grouped by name, so two people with the same name can share this page.

Events and episodes

  1. Adoption of the Stars and Stripes Flag

    1775–1779

    Role: Continental Navy lieutenant who flew the earlier Continental Union Flag and later used various 13-star flags

    1. December 3, 1775 – June 14, 1777 · Continental Navy and Army usageThe Continental Union Flag Precedent

      Before the 1777 resolution, the Continental Union Flag served as the national flag from 1775 to 1777.

    2. 1777–1779 · Army and Navy usageContinued Variety of Flags After 1777

      Despite the resolution, many hand-crafted flags flew in the early independence years, with no settled standard as late as 1779.

    3. June – September 11, 1777 · Middlebrook encampment, Fort Schuyler, and BrandywineEarly Flights and Battle Use

      Tradition holds the new flag first flew at Middlebrook in June 1777; its first battle flight came at Fort Schuyler on August 3, 1777.

    4. June 14, 1777 · Seat of the Continental CongressAdoption of the Flag Resolution

      The Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution on June 14, 1777, defining the flag of the thirteen United States.

  2. Battle of Flamborough Head

    1779–1780

    Role: Continental Navy captain, nominal commander of the Franco-American squadron in Bonhomme Richard

    1. 14 August – 22 September 1779 · Groix off L'Orient to the Yorkshire coastSquadron Sails and Approaches the Yorkshire Coast

      Jones's seven-ship squadron left Groix on 14 August 1779; on the evening of 22 September Bonhomme Richard and Vengeance turned north to rendezvous with Alliance and Pallas.

    2. 23 September 1779 · North Sea off Flamborough HeadBonhomme Richard and Serapis Grapple

      Around 7 pm Bonhomme Richard closed with Serapis; their rigging entangled, and Jones's crew lashed the ships together, locked side by side by Serapis' spare anchor.

    3. 23 September 1779 · North Sea off Flamborough HeadExplosion Cripples Serapis' Gun Deck

      An ignited powder charge set off a chain reaction across Serapis' rear lower gun deck, killing or burning many gunnery crewmen and disabling five guns.

    4. 23 September 1779 · North Sea off Flamborough HeadAlliance Fires into the Locked Ships

      Captain Landais ignored Bonhomme Richard's lantern signals and sailed around the locked ships firing broadsides intended for Serapis' bow and stern.

    5. 23–24 September 1779 · North Sea off Flamborough HeadSerapis Surrenders; Bonhomme Richard Sinks

      Pearson surrendered his sword as Serapis' mainmast fell; the next morning all hands abandoned Bonhomme Richard, which sank shortly before 11 am.

    6. 23 September 1779 – 1780 · North Sea off Flamborough HeadConvoy Escapes; Pearson Honoured

      Nearly every merchant ship in the convoy reached safety before the battle began; in 1780 Pearson received three silver-mounted Coconut Cups for protecting it.

Sources

  1. Flag of the United States Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-19
  2. Battle of Flamborough Head Wikipedia, revision of 2026-08-21