IA
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. J. RES. 6
Recognizing Commodore John Barry as the first flag officer of the United
States Navy.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 30, 2001
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 serv-
ices 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 Tren-
ton during Christmas 1776, a victory in which Captain
Barry also served actively as a combatant;
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Whereas Captain John Barry rejected British General Lord
Howe’s flattering offer to desert Washington and the pa-
triot 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 frig-
ate 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 Con-
stitution, 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 per-
sonally conferred upon Captain John Barry, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate, the rank of Cap-
tain, 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 of-
ficial 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
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of the six foreign-born great leaders of the War for Inde-
pendence;
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.
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