Jacob Jones

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Commodore Jacob Jones (March 1768 - 3 August 1850) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France, the War of 1812 and the Barbary Wars.

Commodore Jones
Commodore Jones

Jones was born near Smyrna, Delaware. Appointed Midshipman 10 April 1799, he served in United States during the quasi-war with France. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in 1801. In 1803 he sailed in frigate Philadelphia to the Barbary coast. On 31 October, when Philadelphia ran aground near Tripoli harbor, Jones was captured by the Tripolitans and held prisoner for 20 months. Upon his return to the United States, he served in Adams and Argus and on 4 June 1810 took command of sloop Wasp.

After the outbreak of war with England, Wasp defeated the British sloop Frolic in a bitter struggle off the Delaware capes on 18 October 1812. Commissioned Captain on 3 March 1813, Jones then commanded Macedonian and later in the war rendered valuable service to Commodore Isaac Chauncey on Lake Ontario.

Upon the return of peace with England, he again commanded Macedonian, joined the Mediterranean Squadron under Commodore Stephen Decatur, and took part in the Second Barbary War. Captain Jones assumed command of the Mediterranean Squadron in 1821; he commanded the USS Constitution from 1 April 1821 to 31 May 1824 and, in 1824, he was appointed to the Board of Navy Commissioners. Two years later, he became commander of the U.S. Naval Forces in the Pacific.

At the time of his death, 3 August 1850, Commodore Jones was the commandant of the Naval Asylum in Philadelphia. He was buried at Cecilton, Maryland, but reinterred in Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery, with distinguished honors.

[edit] Namesakes

Three ships, USS Jacob Jones, have been named for him.

[edit] References

This article includes text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.