William Jones (politician, 1760)
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
- William Jones in the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress (English)
- William Jones in the Miller Center of Public Affairs of the University of Virginia (English)
- William Jones in the database of Find a Grave (English)
Individual evidence
- ^ Member History: William Jones. American Philosophical Society, accessed October 14, 2018 .
personal data | |
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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 |