[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 14, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H11605-H11606]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING COMMODORE JOHN BARRY AS THE FIRST FLAG OFFICER OF THE 
                           UNITED STATES NAVY

  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
joint resolution (H.J. Res. 38) recognizing Commodore John Barry as the 
first flag officer of the United States Navy.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H.J. Res. 38

       Whereas John Barry, American merchant marine captain and 
     native of County Wexford, Ireland, volunteered his services 
     to the Continental Navy during the American War for 
     Independence and was assigned by the Continental Congress as 
     captain of the Lexington, taking command of that vessel on 
     March 14, 1776, and later participating in the victorious 
     Trenton campaign;
       Whereas the quality and effectiveness of Captain John 
     Barry's service to the American war effort was recognized not 
     only by George Washington but also by the enemies of the new 
     Nation;
       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 
     help finance the American War for Independence and also won 
     numerous victories at sea;
       Whereas when the First Congress, acting under the new 
     Constitution of the United States, 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, the successor to the 
     Continental Navy of the War for Independence;
       Whereas Captain John Barry supervised the building of his 
     flagship, the U.S.S. United States;
       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 7, 1794;
       Whereas John Barry served as the senior officer of the 
     United States Navy, with the title of ``Commodore'' (in 
     official correspondence), under Presidents Washington, John 
     Adams, and Jefferson;
       Whereas as commander of the first United States naval 
     squadron under the Constitution of the United States, which 
     included the U.S.S. Constitution (``Old Ironsides''), John 
     Barry was a Commodore, with the right to fly a broad pendant, 
     which made him a flag officer; and
       Whereas in this sense it can be said that Commodore John 
     Barry was the first flag officer of the United States Navy: 
     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, and is hereby honored, as 
     the first flag officer of the United States Navy.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Virginia (Mrs. Drake) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Butterfield) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H.J. Res. 38, the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.J. Res. 38. This resolution 
recognizes Commodore John Barry as the first flag officer of the United 
States Navy. Born in 1745, John Barry came to America as a young seaman 
and became a great American patriot and warrior during the 
Revolutionary War.
  John Barry's contributions during the Revolutionary War were 
unparalleled. He was the first captain to capture a British vessel on 
the high seas; and while waiting for a warship to be built, he also 
fought on the land with a company of marines at the Battles of Trenton 
and Princeton.
  When he assumed command of his favorite ship, the frigate Alliance, 
he captured two British ships after being severely wounded during a 
ferocious sea battle. In all, he captured over 20 ships and fought the 
last sea battle of the war at the helm of the frigate Alliance in 1783.
  After the war, he was appointed the head of the United States Navy by 
President George Washington. He was so highly regarded that his 
contemporaries labeled him the Father of the American Navy.
  Today, with this resolution, we honor Commodore John Barry as the 
first Navy officer authorized to fly his own pennant.
  Mr. Speaker, I particularly want to thank my House colleague, the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. King), for introducing this resolution. I 
urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I, too, rise in support of H.J. Res. 38, honoring 
Commodore John Barry as the first flag officer of the United States 
Navy. I want to recognize and thank the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. 
Drake), my friend, for her support of this resolution now before the 
House.
  Mr. Speaker, H.J. Res. 38 is a tribute to a man recognized as the 
Father of the American Navy. Unfortunately, I suspect most Americans 
today probably do not remember Commodore Barry, let alone his gallant 
and heroic actions during the American Revolution.
  John Barry was born in Wexford, Ireland, in 1745. A son of a poor 
Irish farmer, young John followed his uncle, Nicholas Barry, to sea, 
starting out as a ship's cabin boy and ultimately becoming the senior 
commander of the entire United States fleet.
  In 1766, Barry had his first command aboard the schooner Barbadoes, 
which sailed out of his home port of Philadelphia. Philadelphia became 
home to John Barry, not only because it was an emerging maritime trade 
center but because it was also an environment which promoted religious 
freedom.
  Upon his return from a trade voyage to England, John Barry found that 
the Colonies and Great Britain were at war. As the war for independence 
began, Barry was given the responsibility for ensuring that all the 
Continental Navy ships sailing from Philadelphia were outfitted and 
provisioned appropriately.
  For his exemplary service to our young Nation, John Barry was awarded 
a captain's commission in the Continental Navy on March 14, 1776. With 
his commission came command of a new 14-gun ship named the Lexington. 
On April 7, 1776, Captain Barry captured the British ship Edward. It 
was the first capture of a British warship by a regularly commissioned 
American cruiser.
  In 1777, Mr. Speaker, the British assaulted Philadelphia, and Captain 
Barry was forced to scuttle his new ship, the Effingham. While the 
Effingham was under construction, Barry volunteered his service to the 
Continental Army and served with a company of marines under the command 
of General John Cadwalader. He fought at the Battles of Trenton and 
Princeton, but by March 1778, Barry was back on the sea.
  His heroic deeds during the American Revolution were remarkable. He 
is credited with the capture of over 200 British ships. He was known to 
have

[[Page H11606]]

quelled three mutinies, and he authored a signal book that was used to 
communicate between ships.
  On February 22, 1797, President George Washington conferred the first 
naval commission in the United States Navy on John Barry and gave him 
the rank of captain.
  Captain Barry served as commodore of the U.S. Navy under three 
Presidents: Washington, Adams, and Jefferson. As commander of the first 
naval squadron, Commodore Barry was entitled to fly a pendant, which 
made him, in essence, the Nation's first naval flag officer.
  Commodore Barry's last day on active duty was March 6, 1801, but he 
continued to remain the head of the Navy until his death on September 
12, 1803.
  This resolution, Mr. Speaker, is an effort to honor Commodore John 
Barry for his outstanding contributions to the Continental Navy and for 
his extraordinary accomplishments as the Nation's first flag officer of 
the United States Navy.
  Mr. Speaker, I again thank the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Drake) 
for her support of this resolution. I want to thank my colleagues and 
urge support for this resolution.
  Mr. KING of New York. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.J. 
Res. 38, a resolution which honors and recognizes Commodore John Barry 
as the first flag officer of the United States Navy.
  An American merchant marine captain and native of County Wexford, 
Ireland, John Barry volunteered for the Continental Navy during the 
American Revolution. During his 17 years of service, Commodore Barry's 
naval expertise was instrumental in defeating the British as well as 
building and leading our new Nation's infant Navy. In addition, he 
commanded the first U.S. Naval squadron, served as the senior officer 
in the U.S. Navy (the equivalent of the current position of Chief of 
Naval Operations) under Presidents George Washington, John Adams, and 
Thomas Jefferson, and supervised the construction of the USS United 
States.
  Throughout his career, from taking command of the Lexington to 
participating in the victorious Trenton and Princeton campaigns, 
Barry's contributions to the American war effort were monumental. 
Dubbed the ``Father of the American Navy,'' Commodore Barry continued 
his service to our country by supervising the construction of the first 
Naval frigates and urging the creation of the Department of the Navy.
  I urge the House of Representatives to pass H. J. Res. 38 and 
recognize Commodore John Barry as the first flag officer of the United 
States Navy.
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, if I have no more speakers, and I do 
not think that I do at this time, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Drake) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the joint resolution, H.J. Res. 38.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the joint resolution was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________