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Medal Name: Capture of the Frolic
Struck for: Captain Jacob Jones
Approval: Act of Congress January 29, 1813
OBVERSE
IACOBUS JONES VIRTUS IN ARDUA TENDIT. (Jacob Jones. Valor seeks difficulties.)
Bust of Captain Jones, in uniform, facing the right.
REVERSE
VICTORIAM HOSTI MAJORI CELERRIME RAPUIT. (He quickly snatched victory from a superior enemy.)
Naval action between the United States sloop-of-war Wasp, of eighteen guns, Captain Jones, and the British sloop-of-war Frolic, of twenty-two guns, Captain Whinyates.
The Wasp has lost her main-topmast, and is raking the Frolic as she lays her on board.
The Americans are in possession of the enemy's forecastle.
Exergue: INTER WASP NAV. AMERI. ET FROLIC NAV. ANG. DIE XVIII OCT. MDCCCXII. (Inter Waspnavem Americanam et Frolic navem Anglicanam, die 18 Octobris, 1812: Between the American vessel Wasp and the English vessel Frolic, October 18, 1812.)
BACKGROUND
Jacob Jones was born near Smyrna, Kent County, Delaware, in March, 1770. He first studied medicine, but entered the navy as midshipman in 1799, was lieutenant in 1801, was taken prisoner in the frigate Philadelphia, off Tripoli, 1803, and remained in captivity for twenty months. Having been commissioned as master-commandant in 1810, he was given, in 1811, the sloop-of-war Wasp, with which he captured the British sloop-of-war Frolic, Captain Whinyates, October 18, 1812. For this gallant action Congress gave him a vote of thanks and a gold medal. He became captain in 1813, and received the frigate Macedonian. He afterward commanded squadrons in the Mediterranean and in the Pacific; was a member of the Naval Board and governor of the Naval Asylum inPhiladelphia, where he died, August 3, 1850.
Resolution of Congress Voting a Medal to Captains Hull, Decatur, Jones, etc.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, requested to present to Captain Hull of the frigate Constitution, Captain Decatur of the frigate United States, and Captain Jones of the sloop of war Wasp, each a gold medal, with suitable emblems and devices; and a silver medal, with like emblems and devices, to each commissioned officer of the aforesaid vessels, in testimony of the high sense entertained by Congress of the gallantry, good conduct, and services of the captains, officers, and crews of the aforesaid vessels in their respective conflicts with the British frigates the Guerrière and the Macedonian, and sloop of war Frolic; and the President is also requested to present a silver medal, with like emblems and devices, to the nearest male relative of Lieutenant Bush, and one to the nearest male relative of Lieutenant Funk, intestimony of the gallantry and merit of those deceased officers, in whom their country has sustained a lossmuch to be regretted.
Section 2. And be it further resolved, That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, requested to present to Lieutenant Elliott of the navy of the United States, an elegant sword, with suitable emblems and devices, in testimony of the just sense entertained by Congress of his gallantry and good conduct in boarding and capturing the British brigs Detroit and Caledonia, while anchored under the protection of Fort Erie.
Approved January 29, 1813.
Source: The Medallic History of the United States of America 1776-1876 by J. F. Loubat, LL.D. (1878)