John Paul Jones was born 1747 In Scotland.
He got very little schooling. As soon as he learned to read he had learned to row a boat. At twelve he was very good with boats.
Once his father and a shipowner by the name of James Younger, saw him trying to lead passengers through the stormy waves to the shore. Mr. Younger thought they'd never make it. But his father told him not to fear for it was his son that was the boat man.
After he had made it safely to shore Mr. Younger offered him a berth in his new boat so he could become an apprentice. They accepted his offer.
He was able to visit his brother who had been adopted by the Jones family. They offered to adopt him to but he said." Thank you sir, but I am afraid I am too fond of my ship."
He was very rapid in his progress: at 17 he was second mate at 18 first mate at 19 he was part owner of a slave ship. After two years he had had enough, he knew slavery was wrong and did not want anything to do with it. He was almost mutinied when a fever broke out,so he decided he needed to punish the man who started it. The man died and he was accused of murder. He felt bad and never treated one of his fellow men like that again.
When he heard about the freedom America was trying to get he joined the Continental Navy. He was never defeated in his fighting. One of the best quotes from him is, " I have not yet begun to fight!" He said this when asked to surrender, for his ship was sinking. He was a great man of courage!
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