[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 88 (Tuesday, July 11, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6476-S6477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. MOYNIHAN:
  S.J. Res. 49. A joint resolution recognizing Commodore John Barry as 
the first flag officer of the United States Navy; to the Committee on 
Armed Services.


        john barry, first flag officer of the united states navy

  Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, today I rise to introduce a joint 
resolution, recognizing Commodore John Barry as the first flag officer 
of the United States Navy. Commodore Barry had been described as the 
``Father of the American Navy'' by his contemporaries for his unfailing 
service to the United States Navy. The Commodore, born in Tacumshin 
Parish in County Wexford, Ireland and son to a poor Irish farmer, began 
his maritime career at an early age. He rose through the ranks and, at 
the outset of the American Revolution, was made responsible for 
outfitting the first Continental Navy ships. On March 14, 1776, the 
Marine Committee awarded Barry with a Captain's commission to the 
Continental Navy and his first warship, the brig Lexington. In his 
first conflict at sea with this ship, the Commodore brought the 
fledgling Navy its first victory at sea and captured the Edward, a 
British tender. Barry reported to the Congress, ``This victory had a 
tremendous psychological effect in boosting American morale, as it was 
the first capture of a British warship by a regularly commissioned 
American cruiser.''
  While awaiting the completion of his second warship, the Effingham, 
Barry enlisted as a soldier in the Continental Army and served under 
General John Cadwalader, fighting in the Battles of Trenton and of 
Princeton. But it was not until his return to the Navy that the 
Commodore fought his most famed battle. Aboard the 36-gun frigate 
Alliance, Barry put up a brilliant defense against two British sloops, 
the Atlanta and the Tresspassy. In his crusade, he was badly wounded in 
his shoulder and lost a large volume of blood. His second-in-command 
reported that the ship was in a desperate condition and recommended 
that the ship surrender. But the Commodore refused. He said, ``If this 
ship cannot be fought without me, I will be brought on deck!'' Broken 
and bandaged, Commodore Barry continued forward with the battle. After 
almost four hours, the Atlanta and the Tresspassy surrendered.
  The Commodore's final battle in the American Revolution was also the 
final sea battle of the Continental Navy. Aboard the Alliance, Barry 
escorted the Duc De Sauzon, a ship carrying Spanish silver, and warded 
off the Royal Navy's Sybil, protecting the vital cargo destined for the 
Continental Congress. Even after his retirement from battle, Barry's 
contributions to the Navy continued. In 1797, President Washington 
invited Barry to receive Commission Number One in the Navy. His new 
position placed him in charge of the new Navy and oversight of the 
construction and outfitting of its first frigates. The U.S.S. United 
States and the U.S.S. Constitution were both built under his command.
  Commodore John Barry served as Commodore under Presidents Washington, 
Adams and Jefferson until he died in 1803.
  Before he died, the Commodore wrote a Signal Book for the Navy, which 
provided a practical means of communication between ships. He also 
suggested creating the Department of the Navy, a separate Cabinet 
position from the Secretary of War. This vision was realized in 1798 
with the creation of the United States Department of the Navy. Most 
importantly, Barry was responsible for training many Naval heros of the 
War of 1812.
  It is with great honor and pride that I introduce this joint 
resolution, recognizing Commodore John Barry, a fellow Irishman and 
Naval Officer, as the first flag officer of the United States Navy.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the resolution was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                              S.J. Res. 49

       Whereas John Barry, American merchant marine captain and 
     native of County Wexford, Ireland, volunteered his services 
     to the Continental Navy and was assigned by the Continental 
     Congress as Captain of the Lexington, taking command of that 
     vessel on March 14, 1776, and soon afterward gave to American 
     liberty its 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 River which led 
     directly to General George Washington's victory at Trenton 
     during Christmas 1776, a victory in which Captain Barry also 
     served actively as a combatant;

[[Page S6477]]

       Whereas Captain John Barry rejected British 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, while in command of the frigate 
     Alliance, successfully transported French gold to America to 
     finance the War for America Independence, and also won the 
     last sea battle of that war by defeating the HMS Sybille on 
     March 10, 1783;
       Whereas when the First Congress, acting under the new 
     Constitution, authorized the raising and construction of the 
     United States Navy, it was to Captain John Barry that 
     President George Washington turned to build and lead the new 
     nation's infant Navy;
       Whereas on February 22, 1797, President Washington 
     personally conferred upon Captain John Barry, by and with the 
     advice and consent of the Senate, the rank of Captain, with 
     ``Commission No. 1'', United States Navy, dated June 4, 1794;
       Whereas it was as Commodore of the Navy that John Barry 
     built and first commanded the United States Navy and the 
     squadron which included his flagship the USS United States 
     and USS Constitution (``Old Ironsides'');
       Whereas John Barry served at the head of the United States 
     Navy (the equivalent of the current position of Chief of 
     Naval Operations), with the title of ``Commodore'' (in 
     official correspondence) under Presidents Washington, Adams, 
     and Jefferson;
       Whereas Commodore John Barry is recognized, with General 
     Stephen Moylan, in the Statue of Liberty museum as one of the 
     six foreign-born great leaders of the War for Independence;
       Whereas pursuant to resolutions of Congress, ``Commodore 
     John Barry Day'' was proclaimed for September 13, 1982, by 
     President Reagan and for September 13, 1991, and September 
     13, 1992, by President Bush; 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-Americans, and 
     of the patriotic population generally that United States 
     history be properly told and heroes of the United States 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 (effective as of February 
     22, 1797), and is hereby honored as the first flag officer of 
     the United States Navy.

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