How much do you know about John Paul Jones' Whitehaven invasion?

One figure who stood out from this era was John Paul Jones, a character so intriguing and notorious that he is still talked about. 

But how much do the people of Whitehaven know about Jones and his links to west Cumbria? 

John Paul Jones was a seaman from Kirkcudbright in Scotland, who came to Whitehaven along the Solway channel. 

During one part of his career, he was disgraced in a bullying incident and he fled to the Americas. 

A weapon found in the pub that has been traced back to Jones' era (Image: Newsquest)

When the revolution happened he joined the revolutionaries as a captain. 

He was successful as a captain, creating benefits for sailors with better pay and also engaging in special forces, practicing tactics that have shaped modern warfare. 

Jones wanted to make a name for the American revolutionaries and knew Whitehaven to be a significant port. 

He got a vessel and crewed it mainly with French privateers, and after sailing it along the Irish coast and raiding ports around Dublin, Jones arrived in Whitehaven. 

He sent two long boats into the town, one was tasked with setting fire to the tall wooden ships, and the other was tasked with spiking cannons at Whitehaven battery, which would render the weapons useless. 

A statue on Whitehaven Harbour showing how the cannons were spiked (Image: Newsquest)

After realising the fire hadn't been started he went along the Old Quay to find that his crew were drunk, as the pub was still open. 

By the time he had roused them to set fire to the ships it had started to rain and by this time it was early morning so the town was starting to wake up for work. They were then chased out of the town. 

King George heard of the news and retaliated against the Americans. As a result of a blockade being lifted, the French were able to restock the revolutionaries, helping lead to America's independence.

A Granada Television film unit visited Whitehaven in April 1971 to shoot scenes of the re-enaction of the historic raid (Image: Newsquest)

In the late 1990s, as a token gesture, the town of Whitehaven pardoned the US, and naval officers have visited the town almost annually since.