First Draft of John Paul Jones’ Famous Naval Victory
The September 24 to 28, 1779 issue of the Edinburgh Advertiser gives readers a true first draft of history as it reports, perhaps for the first time anywhere, the famous naval victory by John Paul Jones in the Bonnehomme Richard over the HMS Serapis, known as the Battle of Flamborough Head. This newspaper report is also of great significance because of its proximity to the event. The Advertiser was printed only 200 miles from Flamborough Head in Edinburgh, the closest major city to the battle, which supports the thought that this is likely the first worldwide report. Below is an excerpt from this exciting issue.
Later in the issue, in an extract of a letter from Newcastle, Sept. 25, we learn “Paul Jones’s squadron spread terror on the English coast wherever he appeared, the inhabitants burying and removing their most valuable effects and getting ready to depart as soon as he landed. It is amazing that this daring adventurer should have continued on our coasts for a month terrifying the people and capturing their property, without the least attempt to disturb him. Two fifty gun ships would have taken the whole of his squadron. Surely the British ministry are fast asleep!”
