Jim Jones
1931 – 1978

Jim Jones

American cult leader (1931–1978)

volunteerrapistcult leaderreligious leadermurderer
Born
1931-05-13, Crete
Died
1978-11-18
Birthplace state
Indiana

Biography

James Warren Jones was an American cult leader, preacher, and mass murderer who founded and led the Peoples Temple between 1955 and 1978. Jones and the members of his inner circle planned and orchestrated a mass murder–suicide that resulted in the deaths of over 900 people, including 304 children. He described the action as "revolutionary suicide", a term coined by Huey P. Newton. The people went to their deaths at the remote jungle commune which they had developed at Jonestown, Guyana, on November 18, 1978. U.S. congressman Leo Ryan, who had been visiting, was assassinated before his plane departed. The events at Jonestown had a defining influence on society's perception of cults.

Occupation

Jim Jones is recorded as a volunteer, a rapist, a cult leader, a religious leader, a murderer and a pastor, born in Indiana (1931–1978).

Connections to Indiana

Jim Jones was born in Crete, Indiana in 1931. Explore other notable figures from Indiana, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Indiana›Indianahistory ›Historic sites in Indiana›
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Crete

Jim Jones came from Crete. A full Aubrey report on Crete pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Crete report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Indiana

Other historical figures born in Indiana, ranked by historical prominence.

Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
American singer, songwriter, record producer, and dancer (1958–2009)
Mike Pence
Mike Pence
Vice President of the United States from 2017 to 2021
Kurt Vonnegut
Kurt Vonnegut
American author (1922–2007)
James Dean
James Dean
American actor (1931–1955)
Paul Samuelson
Paul Samuelson
American economist (1915–2009)
Dan Quayle
Dan Quayle
vice president of the United States from 1989 to 1993
Steve McQueen
Steve McQueen
American actor (1930-1980)

Frequently asked about Jim Jones

Who was Jim Jones?
Jim Jones was American cult leader (1931–1978), born in Indiana (1931 – 1978).
When and where was Jim Jones born?
Jim Jones was born on 1931-05-13 in Crete.
When did Jim Jones die?
Jim died on 1978-11-18.
What was Jim Jones known for?
Jim Jones is recorded as a volunteer, a rapist, a cult leader, a religious leader, a murderer and a pastor.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report