Royal Naval Biography/Jones, Theophilus

2117668Royal Naval Biography — Jones, TheophilusJohn Marshall


THEOPHILUS JONES, Esq
Admiral of the Blue.


This officer was made a Post-Captain, Sept. 4, 1782, and commanded the Hero of 74 guns, bearing the broad pendant of the late Sir Richard King, Bart., in the indecisive action between Sir Edward Hughes and M. de Suffrein, off Cuddalore, June 20, 1783, on which occasion the Hero had 5 men killed and 21 wounded[1].

In 1793, when war commenced with the French republic, Captain Jones was appointed to the Andromache frigate, in which he served some time on the Newfoundland station. He afterwards, we believe, commanded the Trident, of 64 guns, and from that ship removed early in 1796, to the Defiance 74, attached to the Channel fleet.

During the alarming mutiny in 1797, the Catholics on board the Defiance bound themselves by the following horrible oath to murder every Protestant in the ship, and carry her into an enemy’s port;– “I swear to be true to the Free and United Irishmen, who are fighting your cause against tyrants and oppressors, and to defend their rights to the last drop of my blood, and to keep all secret within my breast; and I do agree, the next time the ship looks out a-head at sea, to carry her into Brest, and to kill and destroy all the officers, and every man who opposes, except the Master, and to hoist a green ensign with a harp in it, and afterwards to kill or destroy all Protestants.”

Fortunately this abominable conspiracy was detected, and the ringleaders were brought to a Court-Martial, the result of which was the execution of eleven of these blood-thirsty wretches, whilst ten others were sentenced to transportation for life.

In Feb. 1799, Captain Jones was appointed to the Atlas, of 98 guns, and continued in that ship on the Brest station, until the suspension of hostilities. He subsequently commanded the Queen, also a second rate, stationed in the Channel.

Our officer was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral, April 23, 1804; Vice-Admiral, Oct. 25, 1809; and Admiral of the Blue, Aug. 12, 1819; but does not appear ever to have hoisted his flag.

Residence.– 7, Bolton Row, Piccadilly, London.



  1. In this fifth and last battle between Vice-Admiral Hughes and M. de Suffrein, the British had a superiority of three two-decked ships, and 218 guns. A few days afterwards, all hostilities were terminated by the intelligence of a general peace. See note, at p. 17.