John Paul Jones "Damned if I Strike" Tee

John Paul Jones, was heard to say, "I may sink, but I'll be damned if I strike," during the Battle of Flamborough Head, September 23, 1779.  Jones, in his ship, "Bonhomme Richard," took on the larger British man of war "Serapis" in the most storied sea battle of the American Revolution.  When the captain of the Serapis, Richard Pearson, asked if Jones would strike his colors and surrender, he was anwered with cannon fire.  In the end, it was Pearson who struck, and surrendered the Serapis to Jones.  Jones then took the "Serapis" to Holland for repairs.

Behind Jones is the "Serapis Flag."  The Serapis Flag is unique because of its 8-pointed stars and because its red, white and blue stripes are organized in a pattern not found on other American historical flags.  

When Jones and "Serapis" were in Holland, the British Ambassador demanded that Jones be turned over to the English government, along with the Serapis, because, as he was not flying the flag of any known nation and he was sailing a captured ship, he was, according to international law, a pirate.  Quickly, a flag was devised, supposedly sketched by Benjamin Franklin, which was entered into Dutch records as the American flag.  Thus this unique flag was the first American flag recognized by a foreign nation, and saved John Paul Jones from a pirate's fate.