The Irish standard., 1906-09-22
IN A DOUBLE SENSE
Commodore Barry is Father of
the American Navy.
Paul Jones a Lieutenant When
a. Barry Captured Prize.

fishes the following account OF Joha
Barry, given by DIR. John G. Coyle. IN
an address on the subject of 1.-THE
Claims Of Commodore Barry to the
title of the Father of the American
Navy:
John Barry was born in Wexford,
Ireland, in 1899, and came to America
In command of schooner from the
West Indies in 1866. Thereafter he
made Philadelphia his home.
when the Revolution began John
Barry offered his services 10 the Col
onies Congress. the then government
saw the necessity for naval defense
and purchased two vessels, named the
Lexington and the Reprisal and direc-
ted them to be fitted cut as privateers
The captains appointed were John
Barry of the Lexington and Wickes
of the Reprisal. The commissions were
issued by the properly qualified au-
thority, the Marine Committee Of Con-
tinental Congress, on Dec. Z, l775. On
the same day Paul Jones was appoint-
ed lieutenant, but was not assigned
to any ship The first vessel ready
for sea was the Lexington and, under
John Barry as captain, she left Cape
May on March 81, 1876. On April Z,
John Barry in the Lexington attacked
the British sloop, Edward. and cap
tured her after a battle lasting one
hour and a half. He returned to Phil
adelphia on April II. 1916.
Thus John Barry, Irishman and
Catholic, was the first officer appointed
to the command of the first vessel
owned by the United States of America
in the Lexington, which vessel was
named for the first battle of the Revo-
luton and In this vessel fought the
first sea fight Under the authority Of
Congress. capturing the first naval
prize for the navy of the United
States.
any other commander in the navy. He
commanded the fine, ship Efingham.
named for Lord Effingham. II British
peer, who resigned his army commits
sion rather than fight against the
Americans, whose cause his conscience
told him to be just He also COM
rnanded the Raleigh, and iE this ves-
gel fought nine-hour sea duel off the
coast Of Maine, escaping with his men
when his vessel was nearly annihila-
ted.
"When Philadelphia was on the
verge of capture by the British troops
Barry raised company of volunteers
and crossed the Delaware with WASH
ington on that memorable Christmas
of 1910. taking part in the battles of
Princeton and Trenton. He served for
several months in Washington's army.
When Philadelphia was finally captur-
ed Lord Howe offered Barry the sum
finest vessel, in the British navy to
desert the American cause. Barry
spurned the bride Indignantly, assert
ing that all the gold of England could
not tempt him to fire one shot against
the emblem OF liberty. While the Brit
Ash held Philadelphia Barry took twen-
ty-seven men in four rowboats one
night, stole past the city with muffled
oars, was discovered by the sentries.
pursued and fired upon, but escaped
to the lower river, where he attacked
and burned two British vessels, seized
an immense amount of supplies and
attempted to steal the schooner Alert
He was pursued by the entire fleet
and forced to abandon the vessel, but
saved the supplies, which he sent to
Washington's starving army at VAL
ley Forge, winning the grateful thanks
of Washington and the army.
I'm the ship Alliance he fought a
great battle on May %. 1881. In the
fight against two British ships, the
Atlanta and the Trespassy. Barry was
badly wounded and compelled to &C
lbelow decks. While below the officer
in command wished to surrender, be-
cause the Alliance was hard pressed
But the bleeding Barry leaped from
the surgeons table and declared thai
he would go on deck and fight the shir
himself He did, and the two British
ships surrendered.
Barry took no pay during the Rev.
olution, merely having his share of thu
prize moneys. He fought the first ant
last sea fights Of the Revolution, tn,
last against the Sybille in 1882. Ate,
the Revolution he again resumed hi
merchant service. AS citizen h,
forced two recalcitrant assemblymel
of Pennsylvania to take their seats an,
make the necessary quorum which
voted to adopt the new United State