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William Jones (statesman)
Encyclopedia
William Jones was an American
politician.
Jones was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
in 1760. Apprenticed in a shipyard, during the American War of Independence he saw combat in the battles of Trenton
and Princeton
and later served at sea. In the decades that followed the war, he was a successful merchant in Charleston, South Carolina
, and in Philadelphia. He was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives
in 1800 and was offered the office of Secretary of the Navy in 1801, but declined and remained in Congress to the end of his term in 1803.
With the War of 1812
raging, Jones became Secretary of the Navy in January 1813. His policies contributed greatly to American success on the Great Lakes
and to a strategy of coastal defense and commerce raiding on the high seas. In late 1814, near the end of his term, he made recommendations on the reorganization of the Navy Department. These led to the establishment of the Board of Commissioners
system which operated from 1815 until 1842.
During much of 1813 and into 1814, Jones also served as acting Secretary of the Treasury and in 1816 was appointed President of the Second Bank of the United States
. He returned to commercial pursuits in 1819. Jones died in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
on September 6, 1831.
The destroyer USS William Jones (DD-308)
was named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician.
Jones was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
in 1760. Apprenticed in a shipyard, during the American War of Independence he saw combat in the battles of Trenton
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the...
and Princeton
Battle of Princeton
The Battle of Princeton was a battle in which General George Washington's revolutionary forces defeated British forces near Princeton, New Jersey....
and later served at sea. In the decades that followed the war, he was a successful merchant in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, and in Philadelphia. He was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1800 and was offered the office of Secretary of the Navy in 1801, but declined and remained in Congress to the end of his term in 1803.
With the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
raging, Jones became Secretary of the Navy in January 1813. His policies contributed greatly to American success on the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
and to a strategy of coastal defense and commerce raiding on the high seas. In late 1814, near the end of his term, he made recommendations on the reorganization of the Navy Department. These led to the establishment of the Board of Commissioners
Board of Navy Commissioners
The Board of Naval Commissioners was a United States Navy administrative body in existence from 1815 to 1842, with responsibility for the Navy's material support. The three-member Board was created as part of an expansion of the U.S. Navy Department at the end of the War of 1812. The system was...
system which operated from 1815 until 1842.
During much of 1813 and into 1814, Jones also served as acting Secretary of the Treasury and in 1816 was appointed President of the Second Bank of the United States
Second Bank of the United States
The Second Bank of the United States was chartered in 1816, five years after the First Bank of the United States lost its own charter. The Second Bank of the United States was initially headquartered in Carpenters' Hall, Philadelphia, the same as the First Bank, and had branches throughout the...
. He returned to commercial pursuits in 1819. Jones died in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie,...
on September 6, 1831.
The destroyer USS William Jones (DD-308)
USS William Jones (DD-308)
USS William Jones , a Clemson-class destroyer in the United States Navy, named for William Jones.-History:William Jones was laid down on 2 October 1918, at San Francisco, California, by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation. She was launched on 9 April 1919, sponsored by Mrs. Ernest P...
was named in his honor.