Alternatively:
Bonhomme Richard
American naval ship during the Revolutionary War. The Bon Homme Richard was a rebuilt French merchant ship. It was named in honor of Benjamin Franklin.
In her most famous battle, in 1779, the Bon Homme Richard was commanded by Captain John Paul Jones. In an encounter with the English frigate Serapis the Bon Homme Richard was badly damaged. The British Captain asked Jones if he was ready to surrender and Jones replied with his famous line, "Sir, I have
not yet begun to fight."
The Americans eventually won the battle and boarded the Serapis. Where they sat and watched their own ship sink. Said Jones, "Even though she sunk she was victorious..."
The U.S. Navy later christened an aircraft carrier with the same name. It was commissioned in 1944 and finally taken out of service in 1992.