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John Paul Jones' Raid

Whitehaven, Cumbria

An American captain the British called a pirate raids an English port.

John Paul Jones grew up just across the Solway in Scotland and learned his trade sailing from Whitehaven. In 1778, fighting for the new United States, he led a night raid on the town, spiking the guns and trying to burn the ships in the harbour.

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When
23 April 1778
Where
54.5490, -3.5900
Group
Pirates

Visiting

The Beacon Museum on the harbour tells the story.

Cover of Blood and Gold by Cale Mills
Read the full story in the book

Blood and Gold

Sixteen true stories of mutiny, mercy, treasure and the gallows from the Golden Age of Piracy: Henry Every, Bartholomew “Black Bart” Roberts, Edward England, Howell Davis, Christopher Moody, Anne Bonny, Mary Read, Charles Vane, Benjamin Hornigold, Blackbeard, Stede Bonnet, Israel Hands, Calico Jack, Edward Low, Captain William Kidd and Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy. Where the record is uncertain, the book says so.

Buy on AmazonAll books by Cale Mills

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