[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 196 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. J. RES. 196

  To recognize Commodore John Barry as the first flag officer of the 
                          United States Navy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 26, 1996

 Mr. King (for himself and Mr. Manton) introduced the following joint 
  resolution; which was referred to the Committee on National Security

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
  To recognize Commodore John Barry as the first flag officer of the 
                          United States Navy.

Whereas the United States of America is a ``Nation of Immigrants'';
Whereas the contribution of immigrants to the defense of the public liberty has 
        been above and beyond what the proportion of immigrants in the general 
        population would indicate;
Whereas John Barry, American Merchant Marine captain and native of County 
        Wexford, Ireland, volunteered his services to the Continental Navy and 
        was assigned by Congress as Captain of the Lexington, taking command on 
        December 7, 1775, and soon afterward gave to American liberty our first 
        victory at sea with the capture of the Royal Navy Sloop Edward;
Whereas Captain John Barry was principally responsible for organizing the 
        crossing of the Delaware which led directly to Washington's great 
        victory at Trenton during Christmas 1776, a victory in which he was also 
        an active combatant;
Whereas Captain John Barry rejected General Lord Howe's flattering offer to 
        desert Washington and the Patriot cause, stating, ``Not the value and 
        command of the whole British fleet can lure me from the cause of my 
        country'';
Whereas Captain John Barry, in command of the frigate Alliance, having 
        successfully transported French gold to America to finance the War for 
        Independence, also won the last sea battle of that war against the HMS 
        Sybille on March 10, 1783;
Whereas Captain John Barry organized the compulsory attendance of members of the 
        Pennsylvania Assembly in Philadelphia on September 17, 1787, thus 
        insuring the quorum necessary to call a convention and recommend the 
        ratification of the Constitution of the United States;
Whereas when the United States Congress authorized the raising and construction 
        of the United States Navy, it was to Captain John Barry that the 
        Commander in Chief turned to build and lead our infant Navy;
Whereas on February 22, 1797, President George Washington personally conferred 
        ``Commission No. 1'', dated June 14, 1794, upon Captain John Barry ``by 
        and with the advice and consent of the Senate'';
Whereas it was Commodore John Barry who built and first commanded the United 
        States Navy and the squadron which included his flagship the U.S.S. 
        United States and the U.S.S. Constitution (``Old Ironsides'');
Whereas Commodore John Barry is recognized with General Stephen Moylan in the 
        Statue of Liberty museum as one of six foreign born great leaders of the 
        War for Independence;
Whereas President Ronald Reagan proclaimed September 13, 1982, as ``Commodore 
        John Barry Day'', and President George Bush similarly proclaimed 
        September 13 in 1991 and 1992 as ``Commodore John Barry Day'' pursuant 
        to resolutions of Congress;
Whereas Commodore John Barry Day is a legal holiday in Pennsylvania, and in 
        1986, the New York State Legislature enacted that Commodore John Barry 
        Day, September 13, be an official annual observance of the State of New 
        York;
Whereas John Barry served, as what we would today call Chief of Naval 
        Operations, at the head of the United States Navy, with the title of 
        ``Commodore'' (in official correspondence) under three Presidents: 
        Washington, Adams, and Jefferson; and
Whereas in recognition of the historic role and achievements of Commodore John 
        Barry, and of the sentiments of Navy and Merchant Marine veterans, of 
        Irish America, and of the patriotic population generally that our 
        history be properly told and our heroes be properly honored: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That Commodore John Barry is 
recognized as the first, and therefore senior, flag officer of the 
United States Navy.
                                 <all>