Columbian Centinel. Vol. XVIII, No. 9, Whole No. 893. Boston, Massachusetts: Printed and published by Benjamin Russell, in State-Street, 10 October 1792. 4pp, approx. 11 x 18 in., bifolium. Includes reporting on the funeral of John Paul Jones, "Father of the American Navy." Accompanied by an 8 1/2 x 12 in. color lithograph of Jones, likely from the 1929 Forbes Lithograph Manufacturing Co. "Famous American" series, painted after an etching by Moreau made from life in 1780.

Under the heading "FUNERAL Of Admiral PAUL JONES. Paris, July 19," the newspaper records the initial handling of the deceased, who at the order of the "American minister" was to "be interred in the most private manner, and at the least possible expense." In response, the commissary appointed to handle the arrangements "expresses his astonishment at the order given by the minister and says a man who has rendered the most signal services to France and America ought to have a publick funeral. He adds, that if American will not pay the expense, he will pay it himself...." The article notes that more formal arrangements were thereafter made to render an appropriate funeral for Jones, including horse guards and a funeral procession through the streets of Paris to the sepulcher. Monsieur Marron, a Protestant Minister of Paris, performed the eulogy which reads in part: "Legislators, citizens, soldiers, brothers, and friends, we have just restored to the earth the relicks of an illustrious stranger, one of the first heroes of American liberty - of that liberty which was the glorious prelude to our own...What homage more flattering can we render to the memory of Paul Jones, than to swear upon his tomb 'to live free or die?' ...Be partakers then in the glory of Paul Jones; imitate him in the contempt of danger, that noble heroism, which, after having astonished the present generation, shall remain the unchangeable object of veneration for ages to come." A note below the eulogy indicates, perhaps with a note of disdain, that "The American minister could not attend the funeral; As he had some persons to dine with him on that day."

The remainder of the paper with news of the day and advertisements, one of which was for a publication of note: "Rights of Woman...Proposal of Thomas and Andrews, For Printing by Subscription, A New Work, published in England the present year, entitled, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman...By Mary Wolstonecraft."

Scottish-born American naval hero John Paul Jones is perhaps best known for leading his ship Bonhomme Richard against the British frigate Serapis in 1779, during the American Revolution. When asked by the British to surrender during the course of the 3 1/2 hour gun battle, Jones answered "I have not yet begun to fight!" and continued on to a stunning victory. By the close of the Revolutionary War Jones was hailed in both the United States and in France as a war hero. Having spent many post-Revolutionary War years in a series of disappointing naval posts and the service of the Russian Navy, Jones arrived in Paris in 1790. The once celebrated Continental Navy officer died on 18 July 1792 at the age of forty-five while in France, and as evidenced in this newspaper account here, his initial funeral and burial plans were surprisingly undistinguished. Jones was buried in an unmarked grave - or perhaps the marker was stolen at an unknown point. More than a century later his identified remains were escorted back to the U.S. by U.S. warships, and in 1913 Jones's remains were re-interred at the Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis.

[Broadsides, Ephemera, Printing, Posters, Handbills, Documents, Newspapers] [American Revolutionary War, American Revolution, Founding Fathers, Declaration of Independence, Colonial America, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, James Monroe]

Approx. 6 in. tear along vertical fold, toning, scattered dampstaining, small loss near center edge line not affecting text.