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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 56 Introduced in House (IH)]

  1st Session
H. J. RES. 56

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 7, 1999

Mr. King introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred 
                   to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION

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

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;
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 
        American 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 14, 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 the 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.
                                 <all>
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