Bonhomme Richard
· American Revolutionary War frigate
· One of the flagships of Captain John Paul Jones during the American War of Independence
· Originally launched as the French East India merchant ship Duc de Duras in 1765
· Given to the United States by France in 1779 and converted to a frigate
· Carried 42 guns and a crew of 380
· Fought a historic battle which lasted over 4 hours against the larger HMS Serapis
· When the British captain asked Jones if he was ready to surrender, Jones replied, “No Sir! I have not yet begun to fight.”
· The British eventually surrendered, but the Bonhomme Richard was so badly damaged that she sank
· The winning of this battle by Jones influenced France in recognizing and fully supporting the United States in its fight for independence against Britain
· John Paul Jones helped lay the foundations for the American Navy. He is buried in the chapel at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland
NOTE: This model is in the private collection of Mr. & Mrs. Henry Sheeran, Victoria, TX
· One of the flagships of Captain John Paul Jones during the American War of Independence
· Originally launched as the French East India merchant ship Duc de Duras in 1765
· Given to the United States by France in 1779 and converted to a frigate
· Carried 42 guns and a crew of 380
· Fought a historic battle which lasted over 4 hours against the larger HMS Serapis
· When the British captain asked Jones if he was ready to surrender, Jones replied, “No Sir! I have not yet begun to fight.”
· The British eventually surrendered, but the Bonhomme Richard was so badly damaged that she sank
· The winning of this battle by Jones influenced France in recognizing and fully supporting the United States in its fight for independence against Britain
· John Paul Jones helped lay the foundations for the American Navy. He is buried in the chapel at the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland
NOTE: This model is in the private collection of Mr. & Mrs. Henry Sheeran, Victoria, TX
