Died On This Date

July 18

Jones, John Paul
b. July 6, 1747 d. July 18, 1792
Father of the American Navy. The Revolutionary War was fought on sea as well as on land. The fledgling Continental Navy was even more ragtag then the Colonies counterpart the army. Although he was a Scott, not an American, John Paul Jones was the first naval hero. He first stalked British ships around the Colonies and then took the war direct to Britain with command of the sloop Ranger.