JONES, William, statesman, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1760; died in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, 5 September, 1831. He joined a volunteer company at the age of sixteen, and was present at the battles of Trenton and Princeton. Afterward he entered the Continental naval service, and served gallantly under Commander Truxtun on James river, when that officer encountered and beat off a British ship of superior force. He then entered the merchant service, but in 1790-'3 lived in Charleston, South Carolina He returned to Philadelphia in the latter year, and was elected to congress as a Democrat, serving one term in 1801-'3. He was secretary of the navy from 12 January, 1813, to 7 December, 1814, and afterward served as president of the United States bank and collector of the port of Philadelphia. He was a member of the American philosophical society, and published "Winter Navigation on the Delaware" (Philadelphia, 1822).