In 1778 John Paul Jones launched one of the first invasions in American history. John Paul Jones, who is known as the father of the US Navy, was actually born in Scotland. In April of 1778 Jones, the captain of the sloop Ranger, led a shore party of about 30 to 40 men in a raid on the town of Whitehaven in England. About half of his crew found a pub and got drunk but a British coal ship was burnt and Jones spiked the shore batteries to protect his escape. The British press was in an uproar over the Whitehaven raid and insurance rates on shipping doubled overnight. No one was killed or seriously injured, but John Paul Jones had brought the war home to the English during the American Revolution.
Posted in American Revolution
