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NavSource Online: "Old Navy" Ship Photo Archive

Bonhomme Richard (I)

Frigate:

A merchantman built in 1766 under the name Duc de Duras for La Compagnie des Indes, France's version of England's East India Company

Purchased by Louis XVI from a Monsieur Berard in early 1779 and placed at the disposal of Capt. John Paul Jones by France's Minister of Marine, Monsieur Gabriel de Sartine, for operations against the British

Bonhomme Richard preyed on English shipping around the British Isles until meeting HMS Serapis, 23 September 1779

Bonhomme Richard and Serapis fought fierce, four-hour close-range fight until Serapis finally struck her colors

Bonhomme Richard, shattered, on fire, and leaking badly defied all efforts to save her and sank at 1100, 25 September 1779

Before she went down, Commodore John Paul Jones transferred his crew to the prize, Serapis

Specifications:
Displacement 998 t.
Length 152'
Beam 40'
Depth 19'
Draft unknown
Speed unknown
Complement 380

Armament

six 18-pdrs

twenty-eight 12-pdrs

nine 9-pdrs

Propulsion sail

Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description	Contributed By
	105k	Louis XVI of France gave a ship to John Paul Jones who renamed it after the Almanack's authorÑBonhomme Richard, or "Goodman (that is, a polite title of address for a commoner who is not a member of the gentry) Richard" (the first of several US warships so named)	Tommy Trampp
	85k	*Duc de Duras*, the 1766 French built 998 ton fluyt placed at the disposal of Capt. John Paul Jones by France's Minister of Marine, Monsieur Gabriel de Sartine, for operations against the British.	Tommy Trampp
	67k	Markings of cannon from a French East Indiaman of approximately the same date as the *Duc de Duras*. Guns, which were usually inscribed with identifiable markings.	Tommy Trampp
098629230	205k	Plans for USS Bonhomme Richard, Department of the Navy. Bureau of Construction and Repair. 1862-1940. U.S. National Archives Identifier (NAID) 78116437	Robert Hurst
	266k	Artwork by F. Muller (1883 - 1966) of *Bonhomme Richard, circa 1779. This image is available in the holdings of the National Archives and Records Administration, cataloged under the ARC Identifier (National Archives Identifier) 512971*	Robert Hurst
	111k	Drawing of *Bonhomme Richard* under way.	Tommy Trampp
	158k	Drawing of *Bonhomme Richard* under way. US Navy image.	Tommy Trampp
	277k	Ship models of *Bonhomme Richard*, 1779, by Martin R. Harrop.	Tommy Trampp
	540k		Tommy Trampp
	106k	Ship models of *Bonhomme Richard*, 1779, by Michael Czytko Kuehlstr.	Tommy Trampp
	540k	Wooden model of *Bonhomme Richard* from the National Archives Trust Fund Board	Tommy Trampp
	492k	Painting by Harry W. Carpenter of *Bonhomme Richard* underway. From the National Archives Trust Fund Board	Tommy Trampp
	520k	Painting by James Hamilton of the battle between *Bonhomme Richard* and HMS Serapis, 23 September 1779. National Archives Trust Fund Board.	Tommy Trampp
	72k	Painting by William Gilkerson, Beverly R. Robinson Collection, US Naval Academy Museum of *Bonhomme Richard* and HMS Serapis. *Bonhomme Richard* is shown with royals and port topsail studding sails set. Both ships have courses clewed up. Note, also, the respective paint schemes: *Serapis* with a broad yellow stripe over her gun ports; *Bonhomme Richard* with solid black sides.	Tommy Trampp
098629232	48k	Black and white photo of an oil on canvas painting of the engagement between *Bonhomme Richard* and HMS Serapis off Flamborough Head, 23 September 1779. Circa 1789. Painting attributed to LT. William Elliott, RN (active 1774–1810). Media Storehouse	Robert Hurst
	228k	The battle between *Bonhomme Richard* and HMS Serapis, 23 September 1779 From the book "Pictorial History of American Ships, On the High Seas & Inland Waters" (1953) by John and Durant	Tommy Trampp
	168k	French post card depicting the battle between *Bonhomme Richard* and HMS Serapis, 23 September 1779	Arnold Putnam
	162k	Post card depicting the battle between *Bonhomme Richard* and HMS Serapis, 23 September 1779. ©Helen Tilton, 1905.	Arnold Putnam
	185k	Painting by Robert Dodd of the fight between Commodore John Paul Jones, USN in *Bonhomme Richard* and Capt. Richard Pearson, RN in HMS Serapis, 23 September 1779	Tommy Trampp
	98k	Print titled "The Battle between the '*Bon Homme Richard' Com John Paul Jones of the Continental Navy and 'The Serapis*' Capt Pearson of the British Navy, September 23nd 1779". Printed by Thos. Birch, Published by Frank G. Stewart.	Tommy Trampp
	203k	Illustration of the battle between *Bonhomme Richard* and HMS Serapis off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, England, 23 September 1799, Illustration from "Heros of Three Wars" by CAPT. Willard Glazier, Hubbard Brothers, Publishers, Philadelphia, 1882.	Tommy Trampp
	402k	Illustration of *Bonhomme Richard* on fire during her Battle against HMS Serapis off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, England, 23 September 1799, Illustrator Unknown. Illustration frontispiece from Memoirs de Paul Jones. United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division digital ID cph.3b03765	Robert Hurst
	227k	The Battle between *Bonhomme Richard* and HMS Serapis, 23 September 1799. 1954 Bowman U.S. Navy Vic #1 trading card series.	Tommy Trampp
	152k	The Battle between *Bonhomme Richard* and HMS Serapis, 23 September 1799 .	Tommy Trampp
	296k	John Paul Jones indignantly refuses to surrender to *Serapis*: "I have not yet begun to fight". "History of the US Navy", by James M. Morris, page 18.	Tommy Trampp
	268k	The Battle between *Bonhomme Richard* and HMS Serapis, 23 September 1799. An 1855 hand colored illustration: "Engagement between the Bon Homme Richard and Serapis" from "The New World embracing American History", by Henry Howard Brownell, A. M. 1855.	Tommy Trampp
098629231	229k	"The hand-to-hand fight on the deck of the Serapis". From the battle of the American ship *Bonhomme Richard* with the British *Serapis, September 1779. Copy of engraving., Department of Defense. Department of the Navy. U.S. Marine Corps. (09/18/1947 - ). U.S. National Archives Identifier (NAID) 532592*	Robert Hurst
098629231	183k	"I haven't begun to fight" - John Paul Jones (from painting by Henry Mosley, Copyright The Knapp Co as found in "Naval Customs Traditions and Usage" by Leland P. Lovette. Page 150, 1939	Tommy Trampp
	180k	A woodcut print from "Harper's Weekly Journal of Civilization" newspaper from July 14, 1877. This is a great original newspaper that features PAUL JONES AND HIS VICTORY AT SEA.	Tommy Trampp
	130k	Oil on canvas by Thomas Mitchell (1735-1790), signed and dated by the artist, 1780. It depicts *Bonhomme Richard* (center), commanded by Continental Navy Captain John Paul Jones, closely engaged with HMS Serapis, commanded by Royal Navy Captain Richard Pearson, off Flamborough Head, England. Firing at right is the Continental frigate *Alliance, while at left the British Countess of Scarborough* is engaging the American *Pallas. 23 September 1779. US Naval History and Heritage Command Photo #: KN-10855 (color)*	Robert Hurst
	257k	Another broadside from the *Bonhomme Richard* strikes the largely dismasted Serapis HMS Serapis. Library of Congress photo from "History of the US Navy", by James M. Morris, page 23.	Tommy Trampp
	283k	*Alliance* fires on the closely engaged HMS Serapis and *Bonhomme Richard*. Library of Congress photo from "History of the US Navy", by James M. Morris, page 23.	Tommy Trampp
	77k	John Paul Jones bids goodbye to victorious ship *Bonhomme Richard*, 25 September 1779. Painting by Percy Moran for the MSC collection.	Tommy Trampp
	943k	Treasury Dept 1st Auditor letter of 4 January 1843, subject - Prize money claim, John Paul Jones crew, *Alliance* and *Bonhomme Richard*.	Tommy Trampp
	47k	USS Bonhomme Richard 33¢ stamp issued by the Marshall Islands, 1998. "History's Greatest Fighting Ships" mint sheet of 25 stamps.	Tommy Trampp