John Paul Jones (1747-92) was an argumentative, highly original Scottish seaman. At sea from the age of 12 he commanded slave ships and merchant ships until, following a murder charge, he fled to America. In the War of Independence he was the only rebel to land on English soil, attempting to fire Whitehaven Harbour, off Flamborough Head. With thousands watching, he captured an English flagship. In his adventurous career he was knighted by Louis XVI, made an Admiral by Catherine the Great, awarded the Congress Gold Medal for Valour by George Washington. In America he is often regarded as the founder of the US Navy. Controversies about this, and about his difficult, pugnacious nature, are the main themes of this story of adventure, violence, disappointments and triumphs in the era of the French and American Revolutions, and the growth of Russia as a world power.