He was a preacher and cult leader of what was known as "The People's Temple."
They are the ones who comitted suicide on 14-NOV-1978 by drinking poisoned KoolAid (some reports indicate it was FlavorAid) in their compound in Jamestown, Guyana. Jones had moved the cult there when his paranoia had increased to the point where he knew for SURE that the government was after him and the end of the world was nigh.
The triggering event for the mass suicide appeared to have been the visit of a congressman, Leo Ryan, who was checking up on his consituents. Congressman Ryan, along with others in his group, were shot by Jones' followers at the airport.
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