The Vest Pocket War of Commodore Jones

Abstract

IN 1842 COMMODORE Thomas ap Catesby Jones of the United States Navy, on his own initiative, seized Monterey, the capital of what was then the Mexican province of Upper California. What makes the seizure unusual is that Mexico and the United States were at peace, and when the red-faced Jones became convinced of that fact, he promptly restored the port to the Mexican authorities. By his bold action Jones stirred up a hornets' nest in American-Mexican relations and assured himself mention in the annals of American diplomacy. The episode reveals the difficult conditions under which naval commanders worked