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USS Bonhomme Richard

Three ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS Bonhomme Richard or USS Bon Homme Richard, the French language equivalent of "Poor Richard." John Paul Jones gave the famous ship this name in honor of Benjamin Franklin's almanac of that name.

• The first Bonhomme Richard, a frigate built in France for the French East India Company, was placed at the disposal of John Paul Jones in 1779 by the French King.

• The second Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) was an Essex-class aircraft carrier that saw action at the end of World War II, throughout the Korean War, and through the Vietnam War.

• The third Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship homeported in San Diego, California as of 2004.

Would-be Bonhomme Richards

• In 1864, Congress authorized the 3,700-ton Ammonoosuc class screw frigate to take the name Bonhomme Richard, but the vessel was never built.
• On September 26, 1942, while still under construction, the name of CV 10 was changed from Bonhomme Richard to Yorktown (the previous Yorktown was lost three months earlier at the Battle of Midway).