John Paul Jones General Lafayette

The American's and French have a different view of John Paul Jones than the British do. Sir Winston Churchill called him a privateer, Rudyard Kipling called him a pirate when discussing his exploits.

Theodore Roosevelt however refereed to him as a “daring corsair.” When John Paul Jones was attacking British shipping at the beginning of the Revolutionary War, the British considered him a pirate, but America considered him the commanding Admiral of the Continental Navy, which of course Britain didn't recognize.

After a certain point in the war, the British no longer considered him a pirate but a Admiral in the Russian Navy!

There are those that question his credibility based on the number of girl friends he had. A girl in every port so to speak.

He was very arrogant, some historians feel this kept him from advancing in both the Russian and American navies, although he was very accomplished.

For generations midshipmen were required to read his publications on the professional standards and protocol for naval officers;

“none other than a Gentleman, as well as a seaman, both in theory and practice, is qualified to support the character of a commissioned officer in the navy, nor is any man fit to command a ship of war who is not also capable of communicating his ideas on paper in language that becomes his rank.” John Paul Jones to marine committee, 21 January 1777. “As you know the credit of the service depends not only on dealing fairly with men employed in it, but on their belief that they are and will be dealt with fairly.” John Paul Jones in correspondence to Joseph Hewes, 30 October, 1777.

The French masonic General Marquis de Lafayette, the “hero of two worlds”. Played a prominent role in both the American Revolution and the French Revolution.

He snubbed his nose at the French government when in 1777 he departed for America to offer his assistance to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

General Lafayette was a mason, although he was never an American citizen, however there is a whole chapter dedicated to him in Brother Ronald Heaton's book “Masonic membership of the Founding Fathers”. He was a friend of George Washington who became his mentor.

General Lafayette served under General Washington at both the Battle of Brandywine and Valley forge. In 1779 he departed for France to organize the French Force for departure to Newport Rhode Island.

General Washington helped to diverted General Clinton's British Army away from Newport. General Lafayette army was able to greatly help the Colonial Army to defeat the British and win Independence for the Colonies.

In 1781 General Lafayette and his French Force were at the Battle of Yorktown where they served with distinction. General Lafayette was very popular in America and was a great help to presenting the liberal thinking of the colonists, and winning support throughout Europe. The French were becoming frustrated with the rule of Louis XVI, General Lafayette was instrumental in promoting a representative monarchy.

In 1789, General Lafayette proposed a Declaration of Rights. He was elected commander of the French National Guard in 1789. In 1790 he appeared with his Guard at the Festival of Federation, to welcome in the United Communities of France.

General Lafayette was despised by the courts who considered him a rebel and unable to protect the Royal Family. He was inspired by the American Revolution, however he didn't have a realistic plan of his own to implement change.

He fell out of favor with the populace because of his suppression of demonstrators of change in 1791. In 1792 France engaged in war with Austria, and General Lafayette was made commander of the army but was captured by the Austrians and turned over to the Prussians who imprisoned him.

He was released in 1797 and returned to France in 1799. He died in Paris in 1834.