The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-07
TODAY IN HISTORY
WHAT HAPPENED APRIL
John Barry Captures elrat British ship.

One of tho finest types in tho entire
history OF the American navy Is Com
! modore John Barry, the lrishman. who
| was the ilrst commander Of the first ves
sci 10 hghL under tho American flag
the lexington, named after the first bat
Tie i'm the American Revolution, and II
was BarIy who captured the first Brit
ish ship I'm tho struggle for Independence.
Having been born I'm ireland in l7i5,
he took 10 sea at the carly age OF 10.
He served on trading vessel which fire.
The first record Of him as a sea cap
tain occurs on October Z, 1866. when he
became. at Il. master Of q vessel that
traded with the Barbados islands.
When he arrived In Philadelphia on
October IL. 1l15. IN command OF the Black
Prince much history had been made since
his departure the year before. AZ this
time the Continental congress was in sos-
sion, and had ordered two armed cruisers
with authority TO capture vessels bring
ing apples 10 the British army. Barry
was given command Of the Lexington
and his commission was the first Issued
10y the marine committee OF congress.
After his vessel was fitted out he start
ed Ia sea. sailing south. and when off
sighted the British ship Edward, gave
chase, and after n fierce engagement
caused the British TO strike its colors.
Philadelphia proclaimed the Irish sea dog
when he brought his prize up the baS
four days later John Adams wrote OF IT.:
I'VE begin to make some figure here in
the navy way. Richard Henry Lee, IN
letter describing the event, narrated
that the enemy did not submit until he
was near sinking.
Barry's report Of the victory is en-
braced in a few lines. giving the bare de-
tails and concluding: 81 have the hap
pincss 20 acquaint YOU that all our peo-
pie behaved with much courage
Following this first successful venture
OF Barry there are many others 10 his
credit during the Revolution. not only at
sea, but at the head Of volunteer com :
pany under the command OF General
Cadwallader. Barry assisted In the cap
ture OF the Hcssians at Trenton. near
the close Of l1T6.
After the war he returned 10 the mer-
chant marine but only Tor short time.
when trouble again brought him into the
ing our commerce from the dcpredations
of French vessels when war between
France and the United states commenced
on the ocean In 1891. When peace came
I'm 1901 Barry was retained I'm the serv-
ice. Ills health however. had become
broken by his many 9rduous campaigns.
and he died In Philadelphia on the 18th of
September. 1909, al the age OF 5S years.
In It's notice Of his death the Pennsyl-
vanla Gazette thus fcclingly refers To his
lie and services: Ills naval achieve
mcnts would Of themselves. have re-
nccted much honor on his memory, but
those could not have cndCared n to bis
fellow citizens had he wanted those gen.
tie and amable virtues which cmbcllIsh
the gentleman and cnuoblc the soldier.
Barry sleeps the dreamless sleep OF
the dead in old st. Nary's cemetery. on
Fourth street above Spruce. Philadelphia
near TO the lordly waters of the Delaware
that had borne him so often 10 and from
tho sea.