Jacob Jones was born near Smyrna, Del., in March 1768. Appointed Midshipman 10 April 1799, he served in United States during the quasi-war with France. In 1803 he sailed in frigate Philadelphia to the Barbary coast. On 31 October, when Philadelphia ran aground near Tripoli harbor, Jones was captured by the Tripoli-tans and held prisoner for 20 months. Upon his return to the United States, he served in Adams and Argus and on 4 June 1810 took command of sloop Wasp.
After the outbreak of war with England, Wasp captured brig Dolphin 13 October 1812; and defeated British ship-of-war Frolic in a bitter struggle off the Delaware capes on the 18th. Commissioned Captain 3 March 1813, Jones then commanded Macedonian and later in the war rendered valuable service to Commodore Chauncey on Lake Ontario.
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