An antique lithograph print
Copy #5, signed by Edward Moran, depicting
"THE FIRST RECOGNITION OF THE AMERICAN FLAG
BY A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT"
Printed by the permission of Theodore Sutre
Copyright 1898
A VERY WELCOME PART OF THE GREAT SOUTH BAY COLLECTION tm

This lithograph is of the Continental Ship
"RANGER"
commanded by
"JOHN PAUL JONES"
after the United States became independent from British Rule in 1776.
John Paul Jones exchanged salutes with a French Fleet under the command
of
ADMIRAL LA MOTTE PICQUET
February 14th, 1778 at Quiberon Bay, France.
The Ranger fired a 13 gun salute, the customary number rendered a monarchy &
the French answered with an 11 gun salute accorded to the republics.
Later thereafter Captain Jones wrote to the Marine Committee:

"I AM HAPPY IN HAVING IT IN MY POWER TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON HAVING
SEEN THE AMERICAN FLAG FOR THE FIRST TIME RECOGNIZED IN THE FULLEST
& COMPLETEST MANNER BY THE FLAG OF FRANCE.......THE
FACT & ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF AMERICAS INDEPENDENCE"

JOHN PAUL JONES
was born a Scottish peasant, on July 6th, 1747, on the north shore of
Solway Firth, near the fishing hamlet of Arbigland.
He became a sailor at twelve, a mate at seventeen, a captain at twenty nine,
and commodore at thirty two.
At thirty three, the "OCEAN HERO" of the old world and the new,
a Knight of France, the trusted friend of Washington, Franklin, Jefferson,
Lafayette, Hamilton, and Morris.
At forty, voted a gold medal by Congress, at forty one, a vice admiral
in the navy of an "EMPIRE", and sadly, "DEAD", at forty five.

JOHN PAUL JONES
was the founder of
THE AMERICAN NAVY
His Famous Words
"I HAVE NOT YET BEGUN TO FIGHT"

On April 14th, 1781, Congress passed a resolution thanking Captain Paul Jones
"For The Zeal, Prudence, and Intrepidity, with which he has supported
the honor of the American Flag"
and on June 26th, 1781 appointed him to command the seventy four gun ship
"AMERICA"
then being built in Portsmouth, NH.
But when the ship was nearly completed, Congress gave her to France to
replace the "MAGNIFIQUE" , a French ship that was wrecked at
the entrance to Boston Harbor.

In his last days, writing that now:
"AMERICA IS INDEPENDENT, IS IN MY PERFECT PEACE,
AND HAS NO EMPLOYMENT FOR MY
MILITARY TALENTS"

In 1778, Jones accepted an offer from Empress Catherine, of Russia
to command her Naval force in the Black Sea, with the rank of Rear Admiral.
Although his activities on behalf of Russia were brilliant, and successful, Jones
was beset with intrigues,  and conspiracies.
Deeply affected by these personal attacks, he resigned from
Catherine's Service in July of 1791.

He was now just forty four years old, but looked about sixty.
He had given himself so unreservedly to whatever task he found at hand,
that his health was greatly undermined.
The next year, July 18th, 1792, he died in Paris.
More that one hundred years later his body was brought to
America and now occupies an honored place at
ANNAPOLIS, MD.
THIS ITEM IS NOW OFFERED FOR SALE,
CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW FOR INFORMATION
"ITEM # SLFRAF-1"

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