Richard Dale Monument

Median Washington & North Streets •

Richard Dale was the premier Commandant of one of the nation’s first shipyards, now known as the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth. Dale was captured five times by the British during the Revolutionary War and escaped all five times. He also served as John Paul Jones’ Second in Command aboard the Bon Homme Richard. When John Paul Jones died, he willed the gold hilted sword given to him by the King of France to Richard Dale.