ePub John Paul Jones: Sailor; Hero; Father of the American Navy by Evan Thomas in History

Review

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. a self destructive naval heroBy Jason GHeroic; visionary; social climber; patriot; depressive; difficult to get along with others; a victor and self destructive are words that can be used to describe the life of John Paul Jones in Evan Thomas now decade old biography. This is a solid; relatively short work that is accesible to the general reader who has interest in naval warfare; the American founding and the late 18th century. Thomas; besides a career as a journalist and writer; is a high amateur sailer; and is able to articulate nautical terminology to laymen; while still technical enough to ensure the accuracy of his presentation of seamanship.This book covers the full breadth of Jones' life; from his birth in the southwest of Scotland; being the son of a senior gardener on an aristocratic estate; to his move to Virginia; his adventures as a merchant seamen; his aligning himself with the Continental cause in the War for Independence; and detail about his sailing campaigns against the British mainland during the war. Afterwards; Thomas details Jones' boredom with peacetime life; and his alienation of everyone he came into contact with in his last years; ending up in his sad; lonely demise in Paris.The most interesting writing here; as you might expect; deals with the leadership of Jones as a US Navy raider along the British coast in 1779. While having little tactical implications; Jones' raids on the coast and on ships; had useful strategic ends; as it encouraged the British populace; in the aftermath of the Saratoga defeat in New York; to reconsider a long fight against a faraway foe; who was tenacious enough to send modern raiders against the British Isles.The examination of why Jones chose to align himself with the Continental cause is looked at in depth in this book; because it is a bit mystifying on paper; but Thomas does go to some length; in his examination of Jones' character; to show that his streak of independence; vainglory; and emotional passion matched with what he thought the American patriot cause should be. Many of the political leaders in America loved his naval leadership at sea; but grew very tired of him; when they actually had to deal with his many proposals; demands and even accusations. This makes even more sense; when in later years; the Russian government grew equally tired of Jones' odd and glory hound like behavior; leading to some conclusions based on several strong pieces of data about the threads that at times led Jones to both spectacular succes and spectacular personal failure.As an introductory work to this early leader of the US Navy; the reader should appreciate why he became the symbol of that service; as an indomitable; scrappy; ever fighting leader. The reader should also see why Jones' personal demons led to its sad demise; as those threads were present all his life.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Well written; interestingBy mariemarieI was lucky enough to spend a day on the USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53); and have been looking for a well written book about him. As is the case with so many bold military thinkers; he sure was given little respect. But his tactics and victories proved him correct. He would be proud to have the ship I sailed on named after him. Motto: In harms way.15 of 15 people found the following review helpful. Solid Story About A Spectacular ManBy Bill SlocumWhat a difference half a decade can make! In 1774 John Paul was a destitute ex-slave-ship captain on the lam; forsaking his native Scotland for the unknown British colonies of North America. In 1779; that same man; now known as John Paul Jones; was the most feared pirate of the British Isles; the victor of an incredible sea battle which made his name across the Continent; and the first great figure of what would become the American Navy.Evan Thomas's "John Paul Jones" begins aboard of Bonhomme Richard; a crank Indiaman under Jones' fractious command; just as it is about to engage the British man-of-war Serapis off England's Flamborough Head. Cannons are primed; sand is spread over the decks to keep them from becoming slick with blood; and the doctor in the cockpit lays out buckets and saws for the surgery ahead. The Bonhomme Richard would not survive the battle; but Jones would emerge victorious anyway; plucking victory from the jaws of defeat by virtue of his grit and visionary fortitude.Thomas makes a great story out of Jones' life. A senior writer with Newsweek; he is nothing if not readable; with attention for detail and a zest for the telling touch. After allowing a pair of lieutenants to hit up an earl for his silver; Jones goes out of his way to make amends; writing florid and flirtatious letters to the earl's wife and then; finally; returning the silver. "The tea leaves were still inside the teapot;" Thomas writes.He offers some interesting insight into what made Jones tick. It's very engaging; and fits together; but as a shrink; Thomas is a good journalist. A lot of times he talks up some awful situation Jones faced; being passed over or calumnied by his Revolutionary brethren; and ascribes the result to Jones' overweening pride. Jones seems to have been a proud man; though not excessively so given his accomplishments or the age he lived in. He did tarry in Paris a bit long between battles; but he was also given some pretty lacking subordinates and superiors.Thomas calls him "the father of the American Navy." It was interesting to read others here saying that John Barry deserves that title. I find myself agreeing with Thomas. Barry was an accomplished commander; and America was lucky to have him; but Jones captured the imagination in a way that would resonate through the centuries. He was quoted; erroneously but with ringing grandeur; by U.S. naval leaders scraping themselves off the sea floor after Pearl Harbor. He remains a figure of pride today. He may never have said "I have not yet begun to fight;" but he sure walked the walk.I would have liked Thomas to have laid off the dime-store Freud and focused a chapter on just how much of an outlier he was in the early American naval tradition. Thomas does mention Barry in a footnote; and speaks passingly of other decent captains such as Gustavus Conyngham; a privateer who took the fight to English shores before Jones; but most of his analysis of the Revolutionary Navy is so disparaging as to beg wonder at how the Americans won; Jones or no. It's entertaining reading of losers like John Manley and Dudley Saltonstall; and no doubt accurate; but just how much of a sorry lot was the first U.S. Navy? We are told that when Jones engaged the Serapis; "no captain of an American navy ship had ever defeated and captured a British man-of-war of any real size or strength." But how unusual were Jones' successes? My sense is that when you include his capture of General Burgoyne's winter uniforms in 1776; and his harassment of British trade ships off the coasts of Nova Scotia and the home islands; Jones simply towers over his contemporaries. Just how much so would have made for good reading.Instead; we get a lengthy examination of his poor record as a lothario; cadging young women; some disturbingly young; and writing verse of obvious below-the-beltline focus. He places his trust in charlatans and spies; and Thomas has at him for it; but the feeling that he may have been more of a victim of his own patriotism and honest zeal for liberty is not adequately addressed.One interesting comparison Thomas makes all-too-briefly is with another American military commander; Benedict Arnold. It can be argued that Jones did at sea what Arnold did on land; giving legitimacy to the Revolutionary struggle via a blazing triumph against all odds. Both were traduced by scheming cohorts; and underappreciated by superiors. "But unlike Arnold; Jones remained steadfast to the American cause;" Thomas notes.That seems a point worth remembering. Even opting out of the U.S. Navy itself and becoming an American privateer; as many did; would have allowed Jones to make more money without committing treason. But he didn't. That's more worth study than his dalliances with the ladies of Holland or France. Thomas writes about Jones with appropriate zest and awe; and his book is a true joy; but its a bit of a missed opportunity too; in not getting past the trendy cynicism of our time and figuring out what makes for a genuine patriot. It's a good biography in the warts-and-all tradition of our day; just not definitive.