IA
104TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. J. RES. 196
To recognize Commodore John Barry as the first flag officer of the United
States Navy.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 26, 1996
Mr. KING (for himself and Mr. MANTON) introduced the following joint
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on National Security
JOINT RESOLUTION
To recognize Commodore John Barry as the first flag officer
of the United States Navy.
Whereas the United States of America is a ‘‘Nation of Immi-
grants’’;
Whereas the contribution of immigrants to the defense of the
public liberty has been above and beyond what the pro-
portion of immigrants in the general population would in-
dicate;
Whereas John Barry, American Merchant Marine captain
and native of County Wexford, Ireland, volunteered his
services to the Continental Navy and was assigned by
Congress as Captain of the Lexington, taking command
on December 7, 1775, and soon afterward gave to Amer-
ican liberty our first victory at sea with the capture of
the Royal Navy Sloop Edward;
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Whereas Captain John Barry was principally responsible for
organizing the crossing of the Delaware which led directly
to Washington’s great victory at Trenton during Christ-
mas 1776, a victory in which he was also an active com-
batant;
Whereas Captain John Barry rejected 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, in command of the frigate Alli-
ance, having successfully transported French gold to
America to finance the War for Independence, also won
the last sea battle of that war against the HMS Sybille
on March 10, 1783;
Whereas Captain John Barry organized the compulsory at-
tendance of members of the Pennsylvania Assembly in
Philadelphia on September 17, 1787, thus insuring the
quorum necessary to call a convention and recommend
the ratification of the Constitution of the United States;
Whereas when the United States Congress authorized the
raising and construction of the United States Navy, it
was to Captain John Barry that the Commander in Chief
turned to build and lead our infant Navy;
Whereas on February 22, 1797, President George Washing-
ton personally conferred ‘‘Commission No. 1’’, dated
June 14, 1794, upon Captain John Barry ‘‘by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate’’;
Whereas it was Commodore John Barry who built and first
commanded the United States Navy and the squadron
which included his flagship the U.S.S. United States and
the U.S.S. Constitution (‘‘Old Ironsides’’);
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Whereas Commodore John Barry is recognized with General
Stephen Moylan in the Statue of Liberty museum as one
of six foreign born great leaders of the War for Inde-
pendence;
Whereas President Ronald Reagan proclaimed September 13,
1982, as ‘‘Commodore John Barry Day’’, and President
George Bush similarly proclaimed September 13 in 1991
and 1992 as ‘‘Commodore John Barry Day’’ pursuant to
resolutions of Congress;
Whereas Commodore John Barry Day is a legal holiday in
Pennsylvania, and in 1986, the New York State Legisla-
ture enacted that Commodore John Barry Day, Septem-
ber 13, be an official annual observance of the State of
New York;
Whereas John Barry served, as what we would today call
Chief of Naval Operations, at the head of the United
States Navy, with the title of ‘‘Commodore’’ (in official
correspondence) under three Presidents: Washington,
Adams, and Jefferson; 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 America,
and of the patriotic population generally that our history
be properly told and our heroes 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 as the first,