John Paul Jones: Captain of the High Seas

• Documentary

Episode overview

His sense of adventure brought him to America. His bravery made him the country's greatest naval hero. The son of a Scottish gardener, John Paul Jones went to sea at age 12 with the British navy, making his way to America after killing a sailor in self-defense during a mutiny. He joined the fledgling American Navy, and in 1779 became captain of the Bon Homme Richard. In an epic battle with the British frigate Serapis, he responded to the enemy captain's premature assumption of victory with the immortal words, "Sir, I have not yet begun to fight," and went on to win the battle. Maritime experts, leading historians, and Naval officers reflect on the legacy of the swashbuckling hero in this definitive look at his life. And learn about his many accomplishments after the Revolution, when he went on to fight in the Russian navy and lived in Paris during the French Revolution. Join Biography for the story of an inspirational leader and the founder of the American naval tradition.

60 minutes