[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.
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