Why Early America Needed This Unhinged Hero

How does one of the most notorious pirates in British history become an iconic hero of the American Revolution? Long before he went toe-to-toe with the most powerful navy on the face of the planet, John Paul Jones was just a simple Scottish merchant ship captain…who committed a murder…or two. This episode of Rogue History is part of PBS’ America@250 collection, celebrating the country’s 250th anniversary. Democracy is built on participation. Get involved at https://vote.org/pbs ***** PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateORIG ***** Rogue History It’s been said that history is written by those in power. But what about the outlaws, outcasts, and rogues? What if they had their say? Rogue History, a digital series produced by PBS Digital Studios and PBS North Carolina, shakes the dust off the history books to unravel myths, unearth narratives, and discover fresh perspectives. Subscribe to PBS Origins so you never miss an episode!    / pbsorigins   And keep up with Rogue History and PBS Origins on: Facebook:   / pbsdigitalstudios   Twitter:   / pbsds   Instagram:   / pbsds