Which U.S. naval figure helped unfurl the Stars and Stripes at the Fête de la Fédération?

John Paul Jones helped unfurl the Stars and Stripes at the Fête de la Fédération. The former Continental Navy commander was among the Americans who displayed the flag at the Champ de Mars during the Paris celebration on 14 July 1790.

Jones had become famous during the American Revolutionary War for his naval victories against Britain, especially the battle involving Bonhomme Richard and HMS Serapis in 1779. After the war, he spent much of his later life in Europe and had strong connections with France, which had supported the American cause.

The appearance of the Stars and Stripes was symbolically important because it was described as the first time the American flag was flown outside the United States. Thomas Paine and other Americans joined Jones in the display. A common mistake is to treat Jones as an officer of the later United States Navy; the U.S. Navy was not formally established until 1794, so he was a Continental Navy commander at the time.