Jacob Jones
| Jacob Michael Jones | |
|---|---|
Commodore Jones
|
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| Born | March 1768 Smyrna, Delaware |
| Died | August 3, 1850 (aged 81–82) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Buried at | Wilmington and Brandywine Cemetery, Wilmington, Delaware |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1799 - 1850 |
| Rank | Commodore |
| Commands held |
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| Battles/wars |
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Commodore Jacob Nicholas Jones (March 1768 – August 3, 1850) was an officer in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France, the First Barbary War and the Second Barbary War, and the War of 1812.
Jones' birthplace was on a farm about one mile northwest of the town of Smyrna, in Kent county, Delaware. His father was a farmer of exemplary moral and religious character and his mother was of a family greatly respected. She died when he was an infant. His father soon followed her to the grave and at four years of age he was an orphan. It is not clear how he became a doctor. Educated in medicine and practicing as a doctor, he was later appointed as Clerk of the Delaware Supreme Court. He was married to Anna Matilda Sykes, daughter of James Sykes the 15th Governor of Delaware; she died before he joined the United States Navy.
Jones joined the United States Navy in 1799 at the age of 31, very old for the times, when a midshipman could be as young as 10. Some think he joined the Navy because of grief after the death of his wife. He spent 22 months as an acting midshipman.
During the Quasi-War with France, he served under Commodore John Barry in the frigate United States and was commissioned a lieutenant 27 February 1801. Jones joined the crew of the Philadelphia on 24 May 1803 as second lieutenant (2nd mate). On 31 October 1803, he was taken prisoner with the rest of the Philadelphia's crew by the Bey of Tripoli and held until liberated in June 1805.
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