Davy Jones (died August 1729) was, in maritime folklore, the "sailors' devil" who presided over Davy Jones' Locker, the bottom of the sea. The legend of Jack Sparrow stated that Davy Jones was the Captain of the "Flying Dutchman" until August 1729 when William Turner took his place. According to this tale, Jones was originally a Scottish sailor who fell in love with the sea goddess, Calypso. She made him the Captain of the "Flying Dutchman" and gave him a task to carry the souls of those who die at sea to the afterlife. The Dutchman's Captain was not able to step on land for ten years and could spend one day at the shore to be with the woman he loves. When Jones stepped on land after ten years, Calypso was nowhere to be found. Heartbroken, he helped Brethren Court imprison her in mortal form. However, the pain and guilt he felt were so great that he carved out his own heart and hid it in the Dead Man's Chest. Jones abandoned his duty and started to terrorize the seas. In 1729, his heart was acquired by Lord Cutler Beckett and Jones was forced to aid the British East India Company in their war on piracy. He was killed in August 1729 when his heart was stabbed during battle.
Mythological biography[]
Davy Jones in squid form
According to the legend of Jack Sparrow, Davy Jones was a Scottish sailor, and he fell in love with the sea goddess, Calypso. Jones accepted Calypso's offer to become Captain of the "Flying Dutchman" whose duty would be to carry the souls of those who died at the sea to the afterlife. As a Captain of the Dutchman, Jones was unable to step a foot on a land for ten years and could spend one day on the shore. Calypso promised she would visit Jones after ten years so that he could be with the woman he loves. Jones did carry out his duty and, after ten years, he returned looking for Calypso. However, due to her unattainable, cruel and ever-changing nature, the sea goddess didn't come. Heartbroken, Jones assisted the Brethren Court in binding Calypso in a human form. Jones, who still loved Calypso, came to experience extreme sadness over his broken relationship and guilt from the part he played in trapping Calypso. Seeking to stop his pain, he carved out his heart and put it in the Dead Man's Chest, which he buried on Isla Cruces. The hearth continued to beat in the chest and was the one thing that kept Jones alive. Moreover, the hearth carried a hex which would make the one who stabs the hearth become the new captain of the "Flying Dutchman". Jones abandoned his purpose as the carrier of souls and became a cruel man who delighted in bringing suffering to others. He spent the following years utilizing dying sailors' fear of death and punishment for their sins to press-gang them aboard his vessel. The "Flying Dutchman" turned into a cursed ship, with its crew and captain gaining traits and parts of sea animals.
In 1716, Jones made a deal with Jack Sparrow to raise the ship, "Wicked Wench" (which was renamed to "Black Pearl" by Sparrow), from the depths and let Sparrow be its Captain for thirteen years. In exchange, Sparrow would become another member of Jones' crew. In 1729, Jones expected Sparrow part in return. Sparrow tricked him in prolonging the deadline for three days and promising to deliver one hundred souls instead of giving his own. He gave Jones William Turner as the first soul. While Jones was asleep, Turner snuck in his room and stole the key to the Dead Man's Chest. Jones, fearing for his safety, set a sail for Isla Cruces. Since he was unable to step on a land, he sent his crew to retrieve the chest with his hearth. The crew brought the chest, but what Jones didn't know was that the hearth was taken by English Commodore, James Norrington. Jones summoned the Kraken which attacked the "Black Pearl". The crew of the "Black Pearl" managed to escape, but Sparrow and the ship were pulled down to Davy Jones' Locker.
With his hearth now in possession of Lord Cutler Beckett, Jones became a puppet of the British East India Company. The "Flying Dutchman" and its immortal crew had to partake in various battles against pirates. To ensure Jones would not act out, Beckett had his hearth placed on the "Dutchman" and constantly watched. In August 1729, the EITC armada and Brethren Court's armada met and the "Flying Dutchman" and the "Black Pearl" would engage in the one-on-one Battle of Calypso's Maelstrom. During the battle, Jones mortally wounded William Turner, but Jack Sparrow helped Turner stab Jones' hearth with a broken sword. Jones died, with William Turner becoming the new Captain of the "Flying Dutchman".