Gossip from Paris, 1780: John Paul Jones

John Paul Jones, acclaimed in Paris after his spectacular victory in the August 23, 1779, ship-to-ship duel between the Bonhomme Richard and the British ship Serapis, was, detailed an Englishwoman on the scene, “greatly admired here especially by the ladies who are wild with love for him, but he adores Lady_____.” The lady in question was the twenty-six-year-old Comtesse de Lowendahl, the wife of a French brigadier general, who was “possessed of youth, beauty and wit, and every other female accomplishment.” The Comtesse was fond of music and poetry and painting miniatures of her friends: “She drew his picture (a striking likeness) . . . and presented it to him.” (shown above)

 

Called to L’Orient to look after his ship, Jones wrote to the Comtesse that “nothing short of . . .duty to the glorious cause of freedom,” could have induced him to leave “while my heart urged me to stay.” He declared, “You have made me in love with my own picture because you have condescended to draw it.” Enclosing a lock of his hair, he proclaimed, “If I could send you my heart itself or anything else that could afford you pleasure it would be my happiness to do it.” He promised to send a cipher “for a key to our future correspondence so you will be able to write me very freely and without risk.”

 

The Comtesse, who apparently had entered into a flirtation with the thought that Jones might help her husband secure a command in the Continental army, abruptly drew back and told him, “I am touched by the feeling you have for me, and I would have liked to be able to answer them, but I could not do so without deceiving a gentleman with whom I live, and I am incapable of doing that.”

Jones, “the most agreeable sea-wolf one could wish to meet with,” was left with only his miniature to remember her by.  

 

John Paul Jones, 1747-1792 / Comtesse de Lowendahl (1775-1839) / Watercolor on ivory, 1780 / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, conserved with funds from the Smithsonian Women's Committee

 

Comments

[David Browns]

I Found your site on google, its nice site and nice templates here

[Kj Malc]

17th century uhhh that was too ancient, you think he will win nowadays? I'm not sure with that... well, anyway thanks for the article, thru this I know the person that I haven't heard since.

[Jamie House]

We hear tons of "love related" stories occuring on today's yachts and houseboats, but nothing like this.

Sounds REALLY strange to see the writings and hear how they spoke about love affairs way back in those days.