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John Paul Jones "I have not yet begun to fight!" Women's v-neck shirt

John Paul Jones "I have not yet begun to fight!" Women's v-neck shirt

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Regular price $ 32.95
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Our original design, with John Paul Jones holding his saber aloft, with the Serapis flag tied to it, striding proudly printed on the front, and on the back of the shirt, his famous quote and other things from his life.

The shirt: 

  • Heather grey - Printed on a 4.3 oz 100% cotton shirt with a comfortable, relaxed fit compared to the v-neck shirt we've been using. This is a new shirt we've added in response to feedback, so if you prefer a women's v-neck shirt that is less fitted, this is the one for you. SIzes: S-3XL. See size chart.

Comes with a special hang tag written by author J.L. Bell that includes a historical background about John Paul Jones's immortal quote, "I have not yet begun to fight!" The full text is below.

This design is also available on a crewneck t-shirt and magnet


Historical Background Behind the Design 

John Paul, born in Scotland in 1747, went to sea at thirteen. By his early twenties, he was a captain - with a reputation for harshness after he killed a sailor in a fight over wages. To avoid legal troubles, John Paul adopted the surname "Jones" and sailed to America.

When thirteen British colonies allied to seek independence, John Paul Jons offered his maritime experience to their Continental Congress. As hard as Jones fought British armed ships, however, he feuded with other American captains more. Eventually Captain Jones was sent off to hunt British shipping in the eastern Atlantic alongside the French navy.

Jones's most famous fight was a ferocious battle off the English coast in September 1779. Invited to surrender his ship Bonhomme Richard, he declared, "I have not yet begun to fight," and captured the Royal Navy's Serapis. Jones sailed his new flagship into a neutral Dutch port.

At the time, American diplomats in Europe understood their flag to have a blue canton with thirteen white stars and "thirteen stripes, alternatively red, white, and blue." So that was how the Serapis's new flag was entered into Dutch records - not in accord with the Congress's 1777 guidelines.

At the end of the Revolutionary War, Jones received a French knighthood and became an admiral for Russia, but he still got into controversies. The mariner died on an American diplomatic mission in France in 1792. Historians drew on his reports and memoirs to make John Paul Jones a signal hero of the U.S. Navy

— John Bell, author, The Road to Concord and Boston1775.

 

And thanks also to John for recommending the Serapis flag.

Shipping

Flat-rate shipping: Regardless of the number of items you order, the shipping price for shirts, caps, unframed prints and posters, bracelets, lapel pins, pendants, and button packs is $5.95.

For hooded and crewneck sweatshirts, mugs, and blankets, the shipping cost is $8.95. 

Our flat rate shipping means you can add two or more t-shirts, sweatshirts, or caps for no additional shipping charge.

Learn more about shipping here.

All original designs are copyrighted by The History List

All designs are copyrighted by The History List and the History Nerd text and design on t-shirts is a registered trademark. If you see a knock off, please let me know.

Made by America

Nearly everything we offer is designed by us and made in America.

Our original designs are based on our nation’s history and our love of American history. Read more about other things we've created, including The History List, History Camp, and The Pursuit of History, in addition to The History List Store.

All original designs are copyrighted by The History List.

Every product that is made in America states that in the product description and includes the "Made in U.S.A." graphic. There are a relatively small number of items where we’ve not been able to find a manufacturing partner here in the States, but we continue to look.  

Our nation’s historyOur original designs

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Customer Reviews

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Breanna H.
Nice shirt!

Really good quality shirt! My only complaint is it runs a tad small and not much stretch to it. I am 5'3" weigh 270ish normally wear a 2X. I ordered this in the 3X so it would be a little baggy but its tighter than I expected. Otherwise no other complaints! I just recommend sizing up if you don't want skin tight!