Editing Thomas ap Catesby Jones (section)

==Between wars==

In 1826, [[Commodore (rank)|Commodore]] Jones while in command of the veteran [[sloop-of-war]] ''[[USS Peacock (1813)|Peacock]]'', signed treaties with the [[Kingdom of Tahiti]] and [[Hawaiian Kingdom]]. On September 6, 1826, Jones signed a treaty with Queen regent [[Teriitaria II|Pōmare Vahine]] on the behalf of the infant [[Pōmare III]] and other chiefs of Tahiti. On December 23, 1826, Jones signed a treaty with [[Kuhina nui|Queen regent]] [[Kaʻahumanu]] and other chiefs of Hawaii on behalf of the young [[Kamehameha III]].<ref name=Stauffer41-42>Stauffer, pp 41&ndash;42</ref><ref>Kuykendall 1965, pp. 435–436</ref><ref>Newbury 1980, p. 70</ref><ref>Pritchard 1983, p. 53</ref> In 1827, ''Peacock'' was severely damaged in an attack by a [[Sperm whale|whale]].<ref name=Smith68 /> Upon return to New York in October 1827, she was decommissioned and broken up in 1828. She was rebuilt as ''Peacock'' (1828), to serve as an exploration ship of the [[United States Exploring Expedition]]. Jones was to have commanded the expedition, but lack of funding delayed the expedition until 1838, by which time he had resigned the appointment.<ref name=Stanton>Stanton, pp 35-66</ref>

In May 1836, an act of Congress authorized the President to establish the five year [[United States Exploring Expedition]] "to the Pacific Ocean and South Seas", the first extra-continental American scientific exploration.  Jones was appointed Commander of the Expedition. Delays in Expedition departure dates, and various other disagreements, led to Jones (and certain scientists, including botanist [[Asa Gray]]) declining the position in December 1837.  The position was subsequently offered to [[Charles Wilkes]]. From 1841 to 1844, Jones commanded the United States [[Pacific Squadron]], and again from 1848 to 1850. In 1842, four years before the start of the [[Mexican–American War]], Jones [[Capture of Monterey|mistakenly thought that war had begun. He seized the California port of Monterey]] and held it for one day before returning control to Mexico.<ref name=Staffer42>Stauffer, p 42</ref>

Hearing that [[Royal Navy]] officer [[Lord George Paulet]] had [[Paulet affair|occupied the Hawaiian Kingdom]], he sailed there and arrived July 22, 1843. The king was restored July 31, and Jones tried to hasten peace by hosting all parties to dinner aboard his ship.<ref name=Gapp101-121>Gapp, pp 101–121</ref> In 1843, Jones returned a young deserter, [[Herman Melville]], to the U.S. from the Sandwich Islands, as the [[Hawaiian Islands]] were then known. Later, Melville modeled "Commodore J—" in ''[[Moby-Dick]]'', and the Commodore in ''[[White-Jacket]]'' after Jones.<ref name=Stauffer42-43>Stauffer, pp 42&ndash;43</ref> In 1827 ''Peacock'' under Jones's command had been severely damaged in an attack by a whale, which Melville took to have been a sperm whale.<ref name=Smith68>Smith, p 68</ref> ''Moby-Dick'' Chapter 45 ("The Affidavit") is most probably especially shaped by part of the career of Jones.<ref name=Smith151>Smith, p 151</ref> By early 1844 [[Alexander J. Dallas (U.S. Navy officer)|Alexander Dallas]] had replaced Jones as Pacific commander.<ref name=Gapp101-121 />