On this day in 1779, during a brutal Revolutionary War sea battle, American commander John Paul Jones refused to surrender. His outmanned and crippled ship, the Bon Homme Richard, ultimately defeated Britain's HMS Serapis off the North Sea. With fearless resolve, Jones declared, “I have not yet begun to fight.”

Born in 1747 in Kirkcudbright, Scotland, Jones became a merchant marine while still a boy. He traveled the world in search of adventure and a life at sea. Arriving in America, he joined the new Continental Navy in 1775 and quickly rose through the ranks.

Jones believed in speed and boldness. “I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm's way,” he said.

He poured his energy into working hard and mastering naval tactics. With faith in his abilities and unwavering confidence, Jones became a fierce leader who inspired his crew and built a legacy of excellence in the U.S. Navy.

“It seems to be a law of nature, inflexible and inexorable, that those who will not risk cannot win,” he once said.

Though a master of naval battle, Jones also loved to learn. He studied strategy and navigation with passionate dedication. His courage and discipline made him a hero—and earned him the title of “Father of the United States Navy.”

“If fear is cultivated it will become stronger; if faith is cultivated it will achieve mastery,” he believed. “We have a right to believe that faith is the stronger emotion because it is positive, whereas fear is negative.”