John Paul Jones: America's First Sea Warrior

by Joseph Callo

This fresh look at America's first sea warrior avoids both the hero worship of past biographies and the inaccurate and denigrating views of more recent accounts. Writing from the perspective of a naval officer with more than thirty years of experience and a seaman with a lifetime of sailing know-how, Callo examines Jones' extraordinary accomplishments by going beyond a narrow naval context to establish him as a key player in the American Revolution. He also analyzes his relationships with such civilian leaders as Benjamin Franklin. How Jones handled those often difficult dealings contributed to the nation's concept of civilian control of the military. The author also focuses on the fact that Jones was the first serving American naval officer who emphasized the role the Navy could play in the rise of the United States as a global power.

Genres: Biography, American History

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Kevin Pearce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admiral Callo does justice does justice to the memory of John Paul Jones in this biography. He has the unique perspective of making those observations that only a career Naval officer could; that JPJ did not have the benefits of being "raised" in the system including the issues of shipboard discipline, fleet operations and political accumen. His additional notes, references and bits of Naval lore made the book and excellent read.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written book by an author that clearly admires Jones. The focus is on his leadership skills and bravery--which were monumental. The manner in which a captain acquired a ship and paid his crew in this period is fascinating. Some JPJ books will leave you thinking that he was a trumped up pirate--this is not one of those.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine book on the life of John Paul Jones, a genuine hero of the American revolution and a unique individual. This is a well written book although to me it does not express the humanity, character or the energy of Jones. I prefer Samuel Eliot Morison's treatment of Jones' life. In either biography you get the sense that if Jones had only showed a little more discretion in registering his opinions or in his dealings with the opposite sex his career might have reached his high expectations.