Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/165

 JONES

JONES

that Mr. Adams was in that city, the newspaper notice, fortunately, giving liis address there. Immediately on liis arrival in London, Jones called at ]Mr. Adams's hotel, and finding him in his apartments, delivered tiie mail and despatches addressed to him. Mr. Adams was as much as- tonished to see Paul Jones in London as the latter had been at learning of Mr. Adams's presence there. He informed Jones that the object of his visit was to sound the ministry on the subject of a commercial treaty with the United States, and he expressed the opinion that the despatches which Jones had for Dr. Franklin referred to the same subject. But as they were sealed, Mr. Adams would not take the responsibility of open- ing them, though Jones insisted that he had a perfect right to do so. Mr. Adams informed Jones that the despatches for him which were intended for delivery at The Hague, referred to a project for a commercial treaty, but indicated the priornecessity of consultation with Dr. Frank- lin, who, being dean of our diplomatic represent- atives in Europe, was Mr. Adams's superior." Jones joined the French fleet to cruise in the West Indies, but the war came to an end before opera- tions actually began, and he remained in France where he presented the claims of the American government urged and his own for prize money. In 1787 he returned to the United States and congress presented him with a gold medal in commemoration of his services, Oct. 11, 1787. Soon after he visited Denmark on public business connected with prize money, and went from there to Russia, where in 1788, having gained the friend- ship of the Empress Catharine, he was invested with the command of the Russian fleet operating against Turkey. He was commissioned admiral and won repeated victories over the Turks. Be- fore entering the service he had conditioned that he should not be called to fight against America or France, and in the event of America needing his services he reserved the right to leave. This conditional enlistment hindered his advancement and he became dissatisfied and finally resigned. He was appointed by the President U.S. com- missioner and consul to Algiers, in 1792, but did not live to receive his commission. He died in Paris, France, July 18, 1792.

JONES, John Percival, senator, was born in Herefordshire, England, in 1830. He immigrated with his parents to the United States, settled in Ohio and received his education in the public schools of Cleveland. He found employment as a stone-cutter in a marble yard for a brief period, and in the early part of the California gold excite- ment engaged in farming and mining in Tuo- lumne county. He was sheriff of the county, a member of the California state senate, 1863-67, and an unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant-

governor in 1867. He removed to Gold Hill, Nev. , in 1808, and became interested in the develojjment of the mineral resources of that state. He was elected to the U.S. senate as a Repub- lican in 1873, to suc- ceed J. W. Nye, Re- publican, and took his seat, March that year, and re-elected in 188.5, 1890 and his term

4 of was

1879,

1897, of service expiring, March 3, 1903. He served as chairman of the com- mittee to audit and control the contin-

gent expenses of the c)h.^ir^--^^v-''^-^^- senate, and as a mem- ber of the committees on finance, Indian aflfairs, printing, relations with Canada and to establish the University of the United States.

JONES, John Rice, pioneer, was born in Mallwyd, Merionethshire, Wales, Feb. 11, 1759; son of John and Ann (Williams) Jones. He re- ceived a classical education in England and prac- tised law in London. In February, 1784, he settled in Philadelphia, and in the spring of 1785 removed to the Falls of the Ohio (or Louisville, Ky.), in company with John Filson (q.v.) and in September, 1786, he joined Gen. George Rogers Clark's army. He was commissary-general of the Vincennes garrison under General Clark until its dissolution in July, 1787. and was after- ward connected with local militia organizations for the protection of the white settlers, for which service he later received a grant of land from the U.S. government. He was the first English- speaking lawyer in Indiana and the first to prac- tise liis profession in Illinois. He was appointed, bj^ Governor Harrison, the first attorney-general of Indiana TeiTitory, which position he held until 1805. He was secretary of the famous sla- very convention of 1802, and was recommended for appointment as chief-justice of the territorial court; was a member of the territorial legislative council, 1805-08, and for a time its president, and was largely instrumental in the formation of the territory of Illinois in 1809. In 1806-07, in con- junction with the Hon. John Johnson, lie revised and prepared for publication the laws of Indiana Territory, at the instance of the legislature. In 1808 he was a leading candidate for delegate to the 11th congress, but was unsuccessful on ac- count of his pro-slavery views. In 1807 he was appointed by the legislature a member of the first board of trustees of Vincennes university. He was for some time official interpreter and trans-