Founding1779
John Paul Jones Declares "I Have Not Yet Begun to Fight"
During a naval battle off the coast of England, Captain John Paul Jones, commanding the Bonhomme Richard against the HMS Serapis, reportedly declared "I have not yet begun to fight!" when asked to surrender. He captured the British ship despite his own vessel sinking.
Why It Matters
Jones's defiant declaration became a rallying cry of American determination and naval tradition, symbolizing the revolutionary spirit that an outmatched people could prevail through courage and perseverance.