H. J. Res. 157
One Hundred Third Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
the fifth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-three
Joint Resolution
To designate September 13, 1993, as ‘‘Commodore John Barry Day’’.
Whereas the United States of America is a nation of immigrants
and the contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants
to the defense of the public liberty has been a hallmark of Irish
Americans;
Whereas during the War for Independence Captain John Barry,
a native of County Wexford, Ireland, achieved the first victory
for the Continental Navy while in command of the ship ‘‘Lexing-
ton’’ by capturing the British ship ‘‘Edward’’, organizing General
George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River which led
to the victory at Trenton in 1776, transported gold from France
to America while in command of the ship ‘‘Alliance’’, and achieved
the last victory of the war for the Continental Navy while in
command of ‘‘Alliance’’ by defeating the British ship HMS
‘‘Sybille’’;
Whereas during the War for Independence Captain John Barry
rejected British General Lord Howe’s offer to desert the Continen-
tal Navy and join the British Navy, stating: ‘‘Not the value
and command of the whole British fleet can lure me from the
cause of my country.’’;
Whereas after the War for Independence the United States Congress
recognized John Barry as the premier American naval hero of
that war;
Whereas in 1787 Captain John Barry organized the compulsory
attendance of members of the Pennsylvania Assembly in Philadel-
phia, thus ensuring the quorum necessary to call a Convention
and recommend the ratification of the Constitution;
Whereas on June 14, 1794, pursuant to ‘‘Commission No. 1’’, Presi-
dent Washington commissioned John Barry as commodore in
the new United States Navy;
Whereas Commodore John Barry helped to build and lead the
new United States Navy which included his command of the
U.S.S. ‘‘United States’’ and the U.S.S. ‘‘Constitution’’ (‘‘Old Iron-
sides’’);
Whereas Commodore John Barry is recognized along with General
Stephen Moylan in the Statue of Liberty Museum as one of
six foreign-born great leaders of the War for Independence;
Whereas in 1991 and 1992 President George Bush proclaimed
September 13 as ‘‘Commodore John Barry Day’’; and
Whereas designating a day to commemorate Commodore John Barry
would be important to United States Navy veterans, Irish Ameri-
cans, and to all the people of the United States: Now, therefore,
be it
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H. J. Res. 157—2
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That September
13, 1993, is designated as ‘‘Commodore John Barry Day’’, and
the President of the United States is authorized and requested
to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United
States to observe such day with appropriate ceremonies and
activities.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.
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