[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 21] [House] [Pages 28374-28375] [From the U.S. 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. [[Page 28375]] 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 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. ____________________