John Barry (naval officer)

John Barry (March 25, 1745 – September 13, 1803) was an Irish-born American naval officer who served in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War and in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War. He has been credited by some as "The Father of the American Navy", sharing that moniker with John Paul Jones and John Adams, and was appointed as a captain in the Continental Navy on December 7, 1775. Barry was the first captain placed in command of an American warship commissioned for service under the Continental flag. After the Revolutionary War, he became the first commissioned American naval officer, at the rank of commodore, receiving his commission from President George Washington in 1797.
Barry was born on March 25, 1745, in Ballysampson, Tacumshane, County Wexford, Ireland to a Catholic family. When Barry's family was evicted from their home by their Anglo-Irish landlord, they moved to Rosslare on the coast, where his uncle worked a fishing skiff. As a young man, Barry determined upon a life as a seaman, and he started out as a cabin boy on commercial vessels. He later served in the Royal Navy, gaining invaluable command experience. Being raised in the Barony Forth, his first language was Yola, as that was the only language used for daily communication at that time in the area.
Barry eventually left his native country and immigrated to the American colonies, where merchant fleets were in need of experienced sailors. When the American Revolution began, Barry found himself sympathetic to the Patriot cause and decided to volunteer his services.
Barry was formally commissioned as a captain in the Continental Navy on March 14, 1776; his warrant was signed by John Hancock, president of the Second Continental Congress. Barry was a religious man and began each day at sea with a reading from the Bible. He had great regard for his crew and their well-being, making sure they were properly provisioned while at sea.
During his naval career, Barry commanded the U.S. warships Delaware, Lexington, Raleigh, Alliance and United States.
Captain Barry's first American command was USS Lexington, of 14 guns, which began on December 7, 1775. He was the first officer, army or navy, to receive a commission from the Continental Congress. Lexington sailed on March 31, 1776. On April 7, 1776, off the Capes of Virginia, Barry fell in with Edward, a ship's tender servicing the British man-of-war HMS Liverpool, and after a desperate fight of one hour and twenty minutes captured and brought Edward into Philadelphia.
On June 28, the Pennsylvania brig Nancy, carrying 386 barrels of powder in her hold, ran aground while attempting to elude British blockader Kingfisher. Barry ordered the precious powder rowed ashore during the night, leaving only 100 barrels. A delayed action fuse was left inside the brig, exploding and killing seven members of a boarding party from Kingfisher which had just climbed aboard Nancy. This engagement became known as the Battle of Turtle Gut Inlet.
Barry retained command of Lexington until October 18, 1776. He was noted for his success in capturing several privateers operated by Loyalist crews to help enforce the British blockade.
In 1777, Barry was assigned to command USS Delaware, a brig sailing under a letter of marque to prey on British naval shipping in the Delaware River.
In 1778, Barry assumed his third command, USS Raleigh, capturing three prizes before being run aground while fighting an action on September 27, 1778. He and his crew escaped and scuttled the ship, but she was raised by the British, who refloated and converted her into a Royal Navy vessel.
Eager to improve the fighting capabilities of the Continental Navy, Barry authored the first American navy signal book, published in 1780, to improve communications at sea among American vessels traveling in formation.
Barry was seriously wounded on May 29, 1781, while taking part in the capture of HMS Atalanta and her sister ship Trepassey.
He and his crew of the USS Alliance fought and won the final naval battle of the American Revolution 140 miles (230 km) south of Cape Canaveral on March 10, 1783.
Barry was successful in suppressing three mutinies during his career as an officer in the Continental Navy.
On February 22, 1797, he was issued Commission Number 1 by President George Washington, backdated to June 4, 1794. His title was thereafter "commodore". He is recognized as not only the first American commissioned naval officer but also its first flag officer.
Appointed senior captain upon the establishment of the U.S. Navy, he commanded the frigate United States in the Quasi-War with France. This ship transported commissioners William Richardson Davie and Oliver Ellsworth to France to negotiate a new Franco-American alliance.
Barry's last day of active duty was March 6, 1801, when he brought USS United States into port, but he remained head of the Navy until his death on September 13, 1803, from asthma. Barry died childless.
Barry died at Strawberry Hill in present-day Philadelphia on September 13, 1803, and was buried in the graveyard of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
The executors of his estate were his wife Sarah, his nephew Patrick Hayes and his friend John Leamy.
On October 24, 1768, Barry married Mary Cleary, who died in 1774. On July 7, 1777, he married Sarah Austin, daughter of Samuel Austin and Sarah Keen of New Jersey. Barry had no children, but he helped raise Patrick and Michael Hayes, children of his sister, Eleanor, and her husband, Thomas Hayes, who both died in the 1780s.
This article incorporates public domain material from Captain John Barry. Naval History and Heritage Command.