PAUL JONES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 19

PAUL JONES.

LONDON, April 16. The boff^ of Admiral Paul Jones has been discovered in a Paris cemetery. If> will be transferred to the United States.

Paul Jones was born at Arbigland, Kirkcudbrightshire, in 1747, being the son of a gardener named John Paul. Apprenticed as a sailor boy. he made several voyages to America, and in 1773 inherited a property in "Virginia, having meanwhile for five years been mat© of a slaver. About this time he assumed the name of Paul Jones. When, the American Congress in 1775 resolved to fit out a naval force he offered his services. In April 1778, he visited the British coast in a brig of 18 guns, and performed many daring exploits, ravaging the shores of the Solway Firth. At Whitehaven. ho fired one ship and spiked 36 guns ; from St. Mary's Isle he carried off Lord Selkirk's pate. but six years later he restored it, and he gained the first naval success for the Americans by capturing the Drako slcop-of-war. A-s commander of a. small French squadron he threatened Leifcb, fought a rlesDerate and sanguinary engagement off Flamborough Head, and captured two British men-of-war. Louis XVI created him a Chevalier of the Order of MilitaryMerit, and Congress voted him a gold medal. He fought for Catherine of Russia against lurkpv. but =oon left her" service. He died in Paris in 1792 at. the age of 4-5. his funeral being attended by a number of members of the Legislative Assembly. He has been described as a thorough seaman, of the most determined and ferocious courage, but a man of excessive vanity and destitute of morals.