Jacob Jones, an American naval officer, born near Smyrna, Kent co., Del., in 1770, died in Philadelphia in August, 1850. After studying medicine, he received in April, 1799, a midshipman's warrant, and served for some time in the frigate United States under Commodore John Barry. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in February, 1801, and at the opening of the war with Tripoli was attached to the frigate Philadelphia, in which he was captured off Tripoli in 1803, and remained a prisoner 20 months. He was afterward employed for some years on the S. coast of the United States, a part of the time in command of the brig Argus. In April, 1810, he was commissioned as master commandant, and in 1811 was appointed to the command of the Wasp, a sloop of war of 18 guns. He was on his passage home from France in 1812 when war was declared by the United States against England. On his arrival the Wasp was ordered to sea again immediately, and met a convoy of English merchantmen protected by a sloop of war. An engagement ensued, lasting 43 min-ntes, when the Wasp boarded and carried her antagonist. The captured vessel, which proved to be the British sloop Frolic, Capt. Whinyates, was a mere wreck when she surrendered.

Before they were able to clear the wreck, the British ship Poictiers, of 74 guns, captured both vessels and carried them to Bermuda. The Americans were soon put on parole, and returned to the United States. Congress voted a gold medal to Jones, and silver ones to each commissioned officer of the Wasp. In March, 1813, he was promoted to the rank of post captain, and appointed to command the frigate Macedonian in the squadron of Decatur.