John Paul Jones

I read about John Paul Jones in Reading today.  He was the captain of the Bonnehomme Richard.  He had a great battle against one of the best trained British ships, called the Serapis.  The Serapis shot some big holes in the Richard, crippling it.  One of the crew members went to lower the flag in surrender, but Captain Jones threw his pistol at him.  When the British captain asked if they were ready to surrender, Captain Jones yelled, "I have not yet begun to fight!"  In the end, the crew of the Serapis surrendered after six hours of hand to hand combat.  The Americans held the ship for ransom from King George III.  That's why Captain Jones is called the Father of the American Navy.