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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Paul Jones shooting a sailor who had attempted to strike his colours in an engagement.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Paul Jones shooting a sailor who had attempted to strike his colours in an engagement.

Artifact IDMO 1941.3.176
Object Type Print
Artist (British painter, ca.1725-1780)
Publisher (British printer and merchant, 1724-1793)
Date1779
MediumPaper (laid), Paint
Dimensionsoverall H 14 1/2 in x W 10 1/2 in (36.8 cm x 26.7 cm )
 plate marks H 13 3/4 in x W 9 3/4 in (34.9 cm x 24.8 cm )
Physical DescriptionA hand-colored mezzotint print depicting John Paul Jones, likely during the encounter of the USS BONHOMME RICHARD with the HMS SERAPIS on September 23, 1779 off the coast of England. The title and information are printed below the image: PAUL JONES shooting a SAILOR who had attempted to strike his COLOURS in an Engagement. / From the Original Picture by John Collet in the possession of Carington Bowles. ~ / 411 / Printed for & Sold by CARINGTON BOWLES, at his Map & Print Warehouse, No. 69 in St. Pauls Church Yard, London / Published as the Act directs 2d Dec. 1779-.

The scene depicts Jones, on the deck of a ship, surrounded by a number of sailors and crew, some armed and some wounded. With a sword tucked under his left arm, and his left foot resting on the chest of a fallen man, Jones is shooting a sailor at point blank with a pistol in his right hand.
Historical NoteFranklin Roosevelt was an avid, lifelong collector of prints, engravings, and paintings illustrating the history of the United States Navy. John Paul Jones (1747-1792) was one of his favorite naval heroes.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteDonated as a bequest of Franklin D. Roosevelt to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum in 1947.
Credit LineEstate of Franklin D. Roosevelt
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesUnited States Navy Materials (National Archives Identifier 782673)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestricted
CopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view