William Jones (politician, 1760)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William Jones

William Jones (* 1760 in Philadelphia , † September 6, 1831 in Bethlehem , Pennsylvania ) was an American politician and Secretary of the Navy of the United States under President James Madison .

After attending school and training in a shipyard, Jones fought as a young man as a member of a volunteer regiment in the Revolutionary War . He took part in the battles of Trenton and Princeton and later served at sea. After returning from the war, he began a successful professional career as a merchant in Charleston and Philadelphia.

His political career began in 1800 with the election to the House of Representatives for the Democratic Republican Party . The following year he was offered the post of Minister of the Navy, but he declined and remained in Congress until the end of the legislature . When he was offered the office of Secretary of the Navy for the second time in January 1813, Jones accepted. By the time he took the post the British-American War was growing on a larger scale. The actions Jones took were instrumental in America's success in the battle for the Great Lakes . His strategy also included coastal defense and a trade war . During his tenure as Minister of the Navy, which lasted until December 2, 1814, he also headed the Ministry of Finance for a longer period in a temporary capacity .

In 1816 Jones was named President of the Second Bank of the United States . After problems in his administration, he had to say goodbye in 1819 and retired into private life. Since 1805 he was an elected member of the American Philosophical Society .

The destroyer USS William Jones (DD-308) was named after him in memory of the Minister of the Navy, who died in 1831 .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Member History: William Jones. American Philosophical Society, accessed October 14, 2018 .
personal data
SURNAME Jones, William
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American politician, United States Secretary of the Navy
DATE OF BIRTH 1760
PLACE OF BIRTH Philadelphia
DATE OF DEATH September 6, 1831
Place of death Bethlehem , Pennsylvania