The Death of John Paul Jones and Resurrection as ‘Father of the US Navy’

John Paul Jones, 'father of the US Navy', died under mysterious circumstances on July 18, 1792. Although his remains were resurrected and autopsied 113 years later, the cause of his death has yet to be explained fully. In this detailed review of his clinical history and autopsy findings, we conclude, as have others, that Jones died of kidney failure of undermined etiology. Although 'interstitial nephritis' was diagnosed by the prosectors who performed his autopsy, we believe glomerulopathy (possibly IgA nephropathy) was more likely responsible for his kidney failure and that his death was due to a cardiac arrhythmia or some other complication of uremia.