Now the name Serapis doesn’t elicit any recognition. On the other hand, if Ira Riklis were to make mention of the quote, “I have not yet begun to fight”, almost everyone would recognize it immediately as the famous line of the American Captain, John Paul Jones.

On September 23, 1779 (exactly 230 years to the day as Ira Riklis wrote this article). the American frigate, The Bonhomme Richard, under the command of Captain Jones, engaged the British Naval vessel Serapis in the North Sea. The two vessels pounded each other and it appeared as if the Bonhomme Richard was in trouble.

The British Captain, Richard Pearson, called for the American vessel to surrender. The famous quote was Captain John Paul Jones’ reply. Instead, Captain Jones maneuvered the Bonhomme Richard in close to the Serapis, grappled the two ships together, and the battle continued hand to hand. The battle raged at close quarters for another three hours until another ship of the American flotilla fired indiscriminately at both ships and the Bonhomme Richard began to sink.

The Captain of the Serapis, now unable to fire his guns, in danger of being scuttled by the sinking and grappled Bonhomme Richard, and under fire from the Alliance, surrendered to Captain Jones. The Serapis was eventually handed over to the French, the allies of the fledgling United States.