Father of the U.S. Navy Father of the U.S. Navy American Civil War Store: Books, DVDs, etc. Father of the U.S. Navy The importance of the sea as a highway, a source of food or a battlefield, if necessary, was well understood by the American colonists. When the Revolution came, it was a natural impulse, therefore, that many men in numerous locations would play prominent roles in the founding of a national navy. Thus, the Navy recognizes no one individual as "Father" to the exclusion of all others. As it was the Continental Congress, convoked in Philadelphia, that created the Navy in their resolution of 13 October 1775, the members of Congress must collectively receive credit for the creation of the Continental Navy, the forerunner of the United States Navy. The various attempts to credit individual naval officers with this act are misguided, for those officers received their commissions from the very body that created the Navy in the first place. None of this, of course, detracts from the great contributions to our struggle at sea for independence made by General Washington, John Barry, John Paul Jones, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and others.

Source: DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER, WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060 Recommended Reading : John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy. Description: Evan Thomas’s John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy grounds itself on the facts of Jones’s life and accomplishments to bolster his place among the pantheon of Revolutionary heroes while also working to deflate the myths that have circulated about his name. Jones, we learn, was confronted throughout his life with controversy and was crippled by ambition. But Thomas lauds Jones for early innovations as an American self-made man who rose from Scottish servitude. Continued below… Jones, despite his too brisk manner, was a true success, if not genius, as a naval captain. Early in the Revolutionary War, he captured a shipload of winter uniforms destined for General Burgoyne’s army in Canada , which instead warmed General Washington’s troops as they swept across the Delaware to defeat British at Princeton and Trenton . Later, Jones helped formulate the Navy’s plan of psychological warfare on British citizens. And Jones’s strategy to cut off the British fleet via the French Navy was arguably the most decisive strategic decision of the War.

In the end, Thomas makes a good case for a renewed appreciated for Jones’s role in the broader revolution, citing his many connections to the Founding Fathers and his contributions to the broader war effort. While it may be that the John Paul Jones who proclaimed "I have not yet begun to fight" never existed, the real man behind the textbook legend is every bit as compelling a figure in Thomas’s hands. This temperate biography situates Jones in what will likely prove durable fashion among portraits of Adams, Franklin : Six Frigates: The Epic History of the Founding of the U.S. Navy. From Publishers Weekly: Starred Review. Toll, a former financial analyst and political speechwriter, makes an auspicious debut with this rousing, exhaustively researched history of the founding of the U.S. Navy. The author chronicles the late 18th- and early 19th-century process of building a fleet that could project American power beyond her shores. The ragtag Continental Navy created during the Revolution was promptly dismantled after the war, and it wasn't until 1794—in the face of threats to U.S.

of North Africa —that Congress authorized the construction of six frigates and laid the foundation for a permanent navy. Continued below… A cabinet-level Department of the Navy followed in 1798. The fledgling navy quickly proved its worth in the Quasi War against France in the Caribbean, the Tripolitan War with Tripoli and the War of 1812 against the English. In holding its own against the British, the U.S. fleet broke the British navy's "sacred spell of invincibility," sparked a "new enthusiasm for naval power" in the U.S. and marked the maturation of the American navy. Toll provides perspective by seamlessly incorporating the era's political and diplomatic history into his superlative single-volume narrative—a must-read for fans of naval history and the early American Recommended Reading : George Washington's Secret Navy (Hardcover). Description: In July 1775, in his first inspection of the American encampment on the outskirts of Boston, the Continental Army's newly arrived commander-in-chief noted its haphazard design and shabby construction--clearly the work of men unprepared to face the world's most powerful fighting force.

George Washington had inherited not only an army of woefully untrained and ill-equipped soldiers, but a daunting military prospect as well. To the east he could see the enemy's heavily fortified positions on Bunker Hill and a formidable naval presence on the river beyond. British-occupied Boston was defended by impressive redoubts that would easily repel any American assault, and Boston Harbor bristled with the masts of merchant ships delivering food, clothing, arms, ammunition, and other necessities to the British. Washington knew that the king's troops had all the arms and gunpowder they could want, whereas his own army lacked enough powder for even one hour of major combat. The Americans were in danger of losing a war before it had truly begun. Continued below… Despite his complete lack of naval experience, Washington recognized that harassing British merchant ships was his only means of carrying the fight to the enemy and sustaining an otherwise unsustainable stalemate. But he also knew that many in Congress still hoped for reconciliation with England , and in that climate Congressional approval for naval action was out of the question.

So, without notifying Congress and with no real authority to do so, the general began arming small merchant schooners and sending them to sea to hunt down British transports “in the Service of the ministerial Army.” In George Washington's Secret Navy, award-winning author James L. Nelson tells the fascinating tale of how America 's first commander-in-chief launched America 's first navy. Nelson introduces us to another side of a general known for his unprecedented respect for civilian authority. Here we meet a man whose singular act of independence helped keep the Revolution alive in 1775. "James Nelson is not the first historian to reveal this little-known albeit incredibly important aspect of our Revolution, but no one has done it more thoroughly or with greater literary grace." --William M. Fowler, author of Empires at War Recommended Reading : If By Sea: The Forging of the American Navy-From the Revolution to the War of 1812. From Publishers Weekly: Daughan brings a long academic career and solid command of his sources to this provocative history of the origins of the U.S. Navy. Conventional wisdom has the navy beginning in the 1790s. Daughan instead traces its roots to the Revolution.

The fleet established by the Continental Congress had a relatively undistinguished career, but Daughan demonstrates that the Americans gained technical experience, produced talented officers, trained seamen and developed a basic understanding of how a navy should be employed. Continued below… The question then was whether a navy would concentrate too much authority in the central government and risk embroiling the new country in foreign quarrels. By contrast, a coastal defense force of small ships threatened nobody, foreign or domestic. Daughan traces the debate through four administrations, smoothly integrating political with external influences like the Quasi-War with France : John Paul Jones: A Sailor's Biography (Bluejacket Books). Description: America 's greatest naval historian, Samuel Eliot Morison, writes about America 's greatest naval hero in this Pulitzer Prize-winning biography. The Scottish-born John Paul Jones struck several severe blows to English morale during the American Revolution, as he fearlessly ravaged the king's ships within sight of British shores. With tactical brilliance and almost reckless courage, Jones eagerly attacked larger foes and soundly beat them. During one famous engagement, his opposing commander called out and offered Jones the opportunity to surrender.

Jones's immortal response: "I have not yet begun to fight!" This marvelous book is a fitting tribute to a controversial yet romantic figure, who now lies buried at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis Warrior (Hardcover). Description: This fresh look at America ’s first sea warrior avoids both the hero worship of the past and the recent, inaccurate deconstructionist views of John Paul Jones’s astonishing life. The author goes beyond a narrow naval context to establish Jones as a key player in the American Revolution, something not done by previous biographers, and explains what drove him to his achievements. At the same time, Admiral Joseph Callo fully examines Jones’s dramatic military achievements—including his improbable victory off Flamborough Head in the Continental ship Bonhomme Richard—but in the context of the times rather than as stand-alone events. Continued below… The book also looks at some interesting but lesser-known aspects of Jones’s naval career, including his relationships with such civilian leaders as Benjamin Franklin. How Jones handled those often-difficult dealings, Callo maintains, contributed to the nation’s concept of civilian control of the military. Suggesting that Jones might well be the first U.S.

apostle of sea power, the author also focuses on the fact that Jones was the first serving American naval officer who emphasized the role naval power would play in the rise of the United States as a global power. Another neglected aspect of Jones’s career that gets attention and analysis is his brief tour in the Russian navy, a revealing chapter of his life that has been under-reported in the two hundred years since Jones’s death. Rather than looking at Jones in a rearview mirror, Callo illuminates how this unique naval hero is linked to the nation’s present and future. As a result, he gives us a sea saga that tells much about our own lives and times. About the Author: Rear Admiral Joseph Callo, USNR (Ret.), Naval History magazine’s 1998 Author of the Year, has written three books about Admiral Lord Nelson, including Nelson Speaks: Admiral Lord Nelson in His Own Words and Nelson in the Caribbean: The Hero Emerges, was the U.S. editor for Who’s Who in Naval History, and regularly writes on maritime subjects for magazines and newspapers.

Letters from John Paul Jones, considered father of US Navy, surface in South Carolina | American Civil War Forums American Civil War Forums Dismiss Notice Join and Become a Patron at CivilWarTalk! Support this site with a monthly or yearly subscription! Active Patrons get to browse the site Ad free! Pennsylvania Another reminder that lost documents are still to be found in attics, trunks, and even public libraries: "CHARLESTON, S.C. — When John Paul Jones famously said “I have not yet begun to fight,” he certainly had begun to write as evidenced by letters from the American naval hero that recently surfaced at the Charleston Library Society. "The library has 11 letters totaling 13 pages by the famous Revolutionary War captain many consider the father of the United States Navy. "The letters were written in 1777, two years before Jones is credited with making the defiant taunt in the fight between his ship, the Bonhomme Richard, and the HMS Serapis during the war. They were donated to the library in the 1830s but resurfaced only recently.

“'They had completely fallen out of institutional memory,' said Rob Salvo, the library’s assistant librarian." Commodore Barry Commodore Barry "Father of the American Navy" by John Barry Kelly Statue of Commodore Barry standing in Independence Square, on the south side of Independence Hall Few Americans are well-acquainted with the gallantry and heroic exploits of Philadelphia's Irish-born naval commander, Commodore John Barry. Obscured by his contemporary, naval commander John Paul Jones, Barry remains to this day an unsung hero of the young American Republic. As most naval historians note, Barry can be classed on a par with Jones for nautical skill and daring, but he exceeds him in the length of service (17 years) to his adopted country and his fidelity to the nurturing of a permanent American Navy. Indeed, Barry deserves the proud epithet, "Father of the American Navy," a title bestowed on him not by current generations of admirers, but by his contemporaries, who were in the best position to judge. In the space of 58 years, this son of a poor Irish farmer rose from humble cabin boy to senior commander of the entire United States fleet.

Intrepid In battle, he was humane to his men as well as adversaries and prisoners. Barry's war contributions are unparalleled: he was the first to capture a British war vessel on the high seas; he captured two British ships after being severely wounded in a ferocious sea battle; he quelled three mutinies; he fought on land at the Battles of Trenton and Princeton; he captured over 20 ships including an armed British schooner in the lower Delaware; he authored a Signal Book which established a set of signals used for effective communication between ships; and he fought the last naval battle of the American Revolution aboard the frigate Alliance in 1783. Early Years John Barry was born in a modest thatched cottage in 1745 at Ballysampson on Our Lady's Island, which is part of Tacumshin Parish in County Wexford, Ireland. Wexford, at the southeasternmost part of Ireland, has always had a strong maritime tradition. Yet Barry's father was a poor tenant farmer who was evicted by his British landlord. The family was forced to relocate to the village of Rosslare.

An imposing man, Barry stood close to 6'4", according to Admiral Preble who examined his Federal Navy uniform from the 1790s. At Rosslare, the youth's uncle, Nicholas Barry, was captain of a fishing skiff, and the young man determined at an early age to follow his uncle to sea. Barry started out as a ship's cabin boy, and graduated from seaman to able seaman and ultimately, a Mate's rating. Barry grew to be a tall, muscular, well-respected seaman. A salient event which occurred in Barry's youth led to a lifelong enmity of oppression and the British. At a young age Barry learned of the massacre of some 3,000 Wexfordians under an invading force led by Oliver Cromwell in 1649. His First Command Barry's first command came in 1766 aboard the schooner, Barbadoes, sailing out of Philadelphia, which Barry adopted as his home port. Barry had good reason to make Philadelphia his new home. William Penn's legacy of religious freedom allowed Roman Catholics, which Barry was, greater latitude of worship than most anywhere else in the Colonies.

Further, the city was emerging as a great maritime trade center. Its growing population, which exceeded 30,000 by the start of the Revolution, hungered for imported goods brought in by ships piloted by captains such as Barry. Plying back and forth between Philadelphia and the West Indies, Barry gained his early skills of command at the helm of several merchant ships. In the West Indies trade, Barry honed his nautical skills making at least nine round trips without a single mishap. Philadelphians came to like "Big John" Barry due to his reliability, personable nature and his success in the merchant shipping business. His next command, the Patty and Polly, was a small brigantine which he took on but a single voyage. Shortly after, Barry took command of the Industry, a 45-ton vessel which he described as a "good schooner." By 1772, Barry's abilities as a shipmaster had come to the attention of one of Philadelphia's premier mercantile houses, Meredith and Clymer. Reese Meredith recognized Barry's ability by assigning him command of the vessel Peg, quite a plum for a young captain.

About the time colonial difficulties with the mother country necessitated the convening of the First Continental Congress in 1774, Barry began a lifelong friendship and collaboration with the Revolutionary financier, Robert Morris. Barry's last pre-revolutionary sailing experience came in the service of Morris, who was a partner in Philadelphia's top merchant shipping firm, Willing, Morris and Cadwalader. Barry was assigned to their sleek 200-ton ship, Black Prince. It was aboard Black Prince on a return voyage from England that Barry made the amazing and unparalleled record of travelling 237 miles by dead reckoning in a 24 hour period — the fastest day of sailing recorded in the 18th century. The Private Barry In private life, Barry's world was twice darkened by tragic events. First was the premature death of his first wife, Mary Clary (or Cleary), whom he had married at Philadelphia's Old St. Joseph's chapel on October 31, 1767. Mary's death on February 9, 1774, at 29 years of age, grieved him all the more since he was at sea when her passing occurred.

The second tragedy was the disappearance at sea of Barry's brother and fellow mariner Patrick Barry. Patrick's ship, the Union, a letter of marquee vessel, sailed from Bordeaux, France, in August of 1778, and was never heard from again. Barry was consoled by his second marriage, this time to the socially popular and attractive Sarah Keen Austin, nicknamed "Sally" by her friends. Sally Austin and John Barry were married on July 7, 1777, in Old Christ Church by the Reverend William White, rector and founder of the American Episcopal Church. Sarah, an Episcopalian, eventually converted to Barry's Roman Catholic faith. The Barrys were regular parishioners at several Philadelphia Catholic churches: Old St. Joseph's, Old St. Mary's and eventually, St. Augustine's. The Barrys had no children; however, they happily raised two boys from Barry's deceased sister Eleanor's household. Sarah's nephews from Ireland, Michael and Patrick Hayes, were brought to Philadelphia by Captain John Rosseter on his ship, the Rising Sun.

Rosseter was a neighbor of the Barry family in Ireland, and the captain also wound up living on the same street as John Barry in Philadelphia. His close association with the Barrys continued even in death, as the Rosseter plot lies next to the Barry plot in Old St. Mary's churchyard. War When Barry arrived back in Philadelphia on the Black Prince he was greeted with the word that the Colonies and Great Britain were at war. At the outset of the Revolution, Barry was given the singularly important task of outfitting the first Continental Navy ships which were put to sea from Philadelphia. His assignment included: overseeing rigging, piercing gunports, strengthening bulwarks, procuring powder and canvas for the new warships and loading provisions. Upon completion of his work, Barry was rewarded with what he most desired from the Marine Committee: a Captain's commission in the Continental Navy, dated March 14, 1776, and signed by the President of Congress, John Hancock. Along with this commission went command of Barry's first warship, the brig Lexington. In his first contest at sea, John Barry's cruiser Lexington had a successful one-hour battle with the British tender, Edward.

Barry's own report to Congress of his fight conveys the atmosphere of excitement and exultation: In sight of the Cape of Virginia April 7, 1776 to the Marine Committee Gentlemen: I have the pleasure to acquaint you, that at 1:00 p.m. this day, I fell in with the sloop, Edward belonging to the Liverpool frigate. They killed two of our men, and wounded two more. We shattered her in a terrible manner as you will see. I shall give you a particular account of the powder that was taken out of her, as well as my proceedings in general. I have the pleasure to acquaint you that all our people behaved with much courage. This victory had a tremendous psychological effect in boosting American morale, as it was the first capture of a British warship by a regularly commissioned American cruiser. "The Eyedee of Being a Treater" Late in 1776, Barry was given command of the 32-gun Effingham, one of three frigates then under construction in Philadelphia.

During the building of Effingham, Barry was approached by an acquaintance, perhaps his Tory brother-in-law William Austin or a member of the Cadwalader family that sympathized with the British, and offered a bribe of 15,000 guineas in gold or 20,000 pounds British sterling, plus a commission in the Royal Navy if he would turn Effingham over to the British. Barry was promised his own ship under Royal authority but he indignantly refused. In his own words, he "spurned the eyedee of being a treater." Horses are the backbone of a cavalry and needed hay to live. The problem of getting enough hay for their horses proved problematic to the British throughout the war. With the 1777 British assault on Philadelphia imminent, Barry was forced to scuttle his new command, Effingham. Having to make do commanding only small craft, Barry carried out the boldest adventure of his career. His mission included the destruction of all British hay forage in the region, capture of enemy shipping in the Lower Delaware, and fighting off whatever came his way. The Sailor Becomes a Soldier While the Effingham was under construction, Barry volunteered his service to the Continental Army.

He served with a company of Marines under the command of Philadelphia militia commander General John Cadwalader. Cadwalader was part-owner of the merchant shipping company that Barry had worked for before the war. His old employer selected Barry as his aide-de-camp. Thus the seaman became a soldier, and participated in the Battle of Trenton and led a spirited defense during the Battle of Princeton. General Washington chose Barry as his courier in conveying wounded prisoners through British lines and carrying a dispatch under a flag of truce to General Cornwallis. Back to the Sea On March 8, 1778, Barry attacked a British fleet with a tiny squadron of tubs — a plan made to order for the daring Irish commander. Barry took his mix of seven small craft, including rowboats, barges and longboats, and surprised two armed sloops as well as a fortified schooner capturing all three. Show me the Money Barry was on the active roll of American Navy until the end of his life. But he received little in the way of compensation from the always hard-pressed Continental Congress during the Revolutionary War. In fact, Barry petitioned the Congress for back wages after the War in the amount of $6,000.

Barry's Navy was always fraught with problems ranging from lack of supplies and money to mutinous sailors or no sailors at all. Barry also succeeded in destroying three ships, holding off a frigate and a ship-of-the-line and garnering vital British intelligence and valuable Engineers' entrenching tools. Washington sent Barry a letter commending him, stating "may a suitable recompense always attend your bravery." A Raleigh Bad Show The year 1778 saw Barry assigned to the 32-gun frigate Raleigh. Unfortunately, shortly after getting out of port in late September of that year the Raleigh was sighted by the superior British forces which included the frigate, Unicorn, and the ship-of-the-line, Experiment. A 48-hour northward chase ensued with Barry fighting the Unicorn steadily until the Raleigh's foretopmast cracked and he arrived in Maine's Penobscot Bay — unfamiliar waters where Barry had no knowledge of a safe harbor amongst the rocky shoals. Cornered on Wooden Ball Island in the rocky Maine inlets, Barry determined to save his crew and fire his ship rather than let the British take possession. Barry saved two-thirds of his crew.

But the perfidy of a traitorous American midshipman of English ancestry prevented the blowing up of the Raleigh and the complete escape of all hands. (Barry didn't want the ship to fall in the hands of the British.) Nevertheless, Barry successfully guided 88 of his men to safety in rowboats to Boston. The entire episode reflected on Barry's concern for the welfare of his crew and his stubborn refusal to surrender. Pirateering Colonial seamen in the Revolution often found it more lucrative to sign up with "pirates," private ship owners who raided British ships, rather than with the fledgling Continental Navy. The reason: money. When a pirateer captured a British ship, the booty belonged to that captain who divvied it with his crew. While Continental Navy men would also receive some share of the spoils if they caught a British ship, it was nothing compared to work in the private sector. Further, life in the U.S. Navy imposed much more discipline than the freewheeling freebooters. The Brawny Barry Obviously, Barry was a commanding figure. He appeared on deck a burly 6'4", well-built, ruddy-complexioned man of dignified carriage who spoke in a commanding tone.

His handsome, Irish features were accentuated by a small mole located at the upper bridge of a Grecian nose and unusually inverted eyebrows. Hazel eyes glinted brightly and his determination was evidenced by a square, Irish chin. Barry was owner of a wry sense of humor and had to control a sudden Irish temper on occasion. His sheer physical size was an imposing sight in an era when most men stood about 5'5". His great strength was well known in naval circles especially after he single-handedly suppressed three ship mutinies and threw the mutinous ringleaders in the hold. As a disciplinarian, he was firm though fair. Barry was still able to raise crews, despite the mass exoduses to the pirateering business. Barry was a firm believer in Divine Providence and regularly opened his ship day with a Bible reading to his crew. A Ferocious Fight Alliance The frigate "Alliance" was Barry's favorite and the most popular ship in the Continental Navy. It was the one regularly commissioned ship afloat at the close of the Revolution In 1783. Barry captured numerous British prizes during the Revolution and holds the record for prize money returns in a single voyage.

His Continental commands included successively: the Lexington, 16 guns, the Effingham, 32 guns, the Raleigh, 32 guns, and the Alliance, 36 guns. Barry's most renowned naval encounter occurred off the coast of Newfoundland on May 28, 1781. Barry's ship, the 36-gun frigate Alliance, took on two British ships, the sloop Atlanta, and the sloop, Trespassy. Barry's guns spoke first in the form of a well-directed broadside. Unfortunately, however, the Alliance soon lay becalmed in the water due to a lack of wind. The two smaller British ships were able to employ sweeps and maneuver close to the prow and stern of the Alliance. They thus were able to rake the Alliance from either end. Both ships inflicted considerable damage to the Alliance's rigs, spars, masts and sails due to her inability to make steerageway. Barry conducted a relentless defense from the quarterdeck until a hurtling projectile of canister shot (broken nails, metal fragments, and minnie balls) struck him in the left shoulder.

He remained on deck bleeding from many wounds for twenty minutes, until, losing consciousness from loss of blood, he was escorted below deck to the cockpit for medical care by the ship's surgeon Kendall. As the struggle increased in smoky intensity, the Alliance's colors (flag) were shot away. Barry's second in command, Lieutenant Hoysted Hacker, appeared before him as his wounds were being dressed and said, "I have to report the ship in frightful condition, Sir. The rigging is much cut, damage everywhere great, many men killed and wounded, and we labor under great disadvantage for want of wind. Have I permission to strike our colors?" Barry angrily replied, "No Sir, the thunder! If this ship cannot be fought without me, I will be brought on deck; to your duty, Sir." A new flag was raised using the mizzenbrail for a halyard, and the fight continued. Just as Hacker reached the deck, filled with renewed resolve, a bit of luck arrived in the presence of a gust of wind filling the Alliance's sails. Replying to her helm, the battered Alliance swung about. The whole starboard battery was employed with decisive effect.

Fourteen 12-pound cannons were brought into the fray. After two successful broadsides, both the Atlanta and the Tresspassy struck their colors. The grueling battle had lasted nearly four hours and had cost the British two ships, 11 dead, including one of the two captains, and 25 wounded. The surviving British commander, Captain Edwards, appeared on the deck of the Alliance for the customary surrender ceremony. He was led to Barry's cabin where the American commander's wounds had just been dressed. Edwards presented his sword. Barry received it, then returned it with the message, "I return it to you, Sir. You have merited it, and your King ought to give you a better ship. Here is my cabin, at your service. Use it as your own." Barry prepared an official report of his double victory for the Board of Admiralty, which rejoiced in the success achieved.

Barry's agent, John Brown, referred to the Board's reaction when he said, "Amidst their rejoicing it gives them pain to think that so Gallant and diligent an Officer should by a wound be prevented even for a Short time from rendering those Services which he hath always shown such an inclination and Ability to perform." The Final Fight Barry's final battle of the Revolution was also the last sea battle of the Continental Navy. On March 10, 1783, Barry was returning from Havana aboard the Alliance escorting the Duc de Lauzon, a transport carrying a shipment of 72,000 Spanish silver dollars destined for the Continental Congress. Off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, the Alliance fell in with the British frigate, the Sybil. In order to protect his escort and its precious bullion, Barry engaged the Sybil. A 45-minute exchange of gunfire ensued, with Barry directing his gun crews to superb results. The British vessel sheared off after experiencing severe punishment from the American crews who shattered her rigging, masts and hull. After the War After the War for Independence and the dissolution of the Continental Navy, Barry reentered the maritime trade.

Between the years 1787-89, Barry helped to open commerce with China and the Orient while captaining the merchant ship, Asia. Patrick Hayes, his second wife Sally's nephew, accompanied Barry on his eventful journeys to the Orient where porcelain and ivory treasures were brought back and sold to Philadelphians hungering for luxurious items. In the 1790s, under Washington's guidance, the Navy was revived as a permanent entity. Barbary Pirate depredations on American merchantmen had strained relations with America's old ally France and brought about this revival. On June 5, 1794, Secretary of War Henry Knox wrote Barry to inform him that on the day earlier, Barry had been selected senior Captain of the Federal Navy by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The epithet Father of the Navy first appeared with the publication of a biographical sketch in Nicholas Biddle's literary journal, Port Folio, in 1813.

The Father of the Navy On February 22, 1797, President Washington called Barry to the President's Mansion at 190 High (Market) Street, to receive Commission Number One in the Navy which was dated June 4, 1794, the date of his original selection. The formal ceremony took place on Washington's birthday. Barry outfitted and supervised the construction of the first frigates built under the Naval Act of March 27, 1794, including his own forty-four gun frigate the USS United States, which was to serve as his flagship. The United States slid into the water on May 10, 1797, under Barry's helm. Commodore Barry Barry held the courtesy title of Commodore from this period since he served as squadron commander of the fleet which assembled in the West India Sea. He commanded all American ships during the undeclared naval war with France (1798-1800) and personally captured several French merchantmen. Barry finished his active career as head squadron commander of the United States Naval Station in the West Indies at Guadaloupe (1798-1801).

Perhaps most significantly he trained numerous future sea heroes who won fresh laurels in the War of 1812. John Barry was so well-regarded during his lifetime that when President Jefferson retrenched the military establishment, Barry's services were retained. Despite being so engaged with naval matters, Barry was active socially while on land. He was a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the Hibernian Fire Company, and the Society of the Cincinnati — the military brotherhood of officers of the Continental Army, Navy and Marines that General Henry Knox organized in 1783. He also showed a philanthropic side. Early in his career as a young ship master, he joined the Charitable Captains of Ships Club, organized for the relief of widows and orphans of sailing men. Champion of the Nascent Navy Barry's contributions to the nascent navy were singular. He authored a Signal Book in 1780, which established a set of signals to be used for effective communication between ships voyaging in squadron formation. Barry also suggested the creation of a Department of the Navy with separate cabinet status from the Secretary of War. This was finally realized with the formation of the United States Department of the Navy in 1798.

Barry's suggestions about establishing government-operated navy yards were also realized. So many of the heroes of the War of 1812 were trained under Barry's tutelage that he earned the sobriquet, "Father of the Navy." The esteem in which Barry was held by his contemporaries can best be summarized by the words of his close friend and eulogist, Signer of the Declaration , Doctor Benjamin Rush , who wrote: He fought often and once bled in the cause of freedom, but his habits of War did not lessen in him the peaceful virtues which adorn private life." Barry's Death Prematurely aged from an arduous life at sea, as can be evidenced by looking at an 1801 Gilbert Stuart portrait, Barry lived but 58 years. He died on September 12, 1803, at his country home "Strawberry Hill," some three miles north of Philadelphia, of a long-standing asthmatic affliction.

In placing Barry at the head of the Navy, George Washington stated he had special trust and confidence "in [Commodore Barry's] patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities." Neither Washington, Barry's old friend, nor the Nation ever had reason to regret the selection of Barry as head of the Navy. Barry played a vital role in establishing the earliest traditions of the Navy: faithful devotion to duty, honoring the flag, and vigilant protection of the rights of the sovereign United States. Barry's last day of active duty came on March 6, 1801, when he brought the USS United Statesinto port. He remained head of the Navy until his death on September 12, 1803, from the complications of asthma. On September 14, 1803, John Barry received his country's salute in a full military burial in Philadelphia's Old St. Mary's Churchyard. Such was the man, John Barry, a gallant mariner who served his nation well and stood tall in the annals of American naval history.

The £1.65m estate where 'father of the US Navy', John Paul Jones in Scotland | Daily Mail Online comments The spectacular Scottish birthplace of 'the Father of the American Navy' has gone up for sale for a cool £1.65million ($2.45m). John Paul Jones, from Dumfries, Scotland, is one of the best-known military leaders of the American Revolution thanks to his prowess as a commander at sea. During the revolution of the 18th century Jones raided, sank and seized ships belonging to the Royal Navy and was responsible for turning the tides in favor of the Americans.

Stunning: The impressive Arbigland estate in Dumfries, Scotland comes with the seven-bedroom mansion Expensive: The spectacular property, which is the birthplace of John Paul Jones, will set you back a cool £1.65million History: During the revolution of the 18th century Jones raided, sank and seized ships belonging to the Royal Navy Vast: The Georgian property, where Jones may have first set eyes on the sea, comes with 24 acres of land Today he is revered by historians across the world as one of the central figures in the birth of the USA - remembered especially for his audacious raid on Whitehaven, Cumbria, in 1778. His former home - the impressive Arbigland estate in Dumfries - comes with a seven-bedroom mansion, three guest cottages and incredible coastal gardens. The Georgian property, where Jones may have first set eyes on the sea, also comes with 24 acres of land, including private woodlands and a lake. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share Jones was born in 1747 to the head gardener of the estate.

The cottage - just a short walk from the main house - has since been transformed into the John Paul Jones Birthplace Museum and Visitor Centre. In 1761, Jones went to sea as a 13-year-old sailor aboard British merchant and slave ships. Working his way up through the ranks, he was eventually commissioned as a senior lieutenant in the US Navy when revolution broke out in 1775. He distinguished himself as a military fighter against British ships in the Bahamas - where he had the honour of hoisting the first US flag. Revolutionary: Jones is revered by historians across the world as one of the central figures in the birth of the USA Old: Jones, who is known as 'the Father of the American Navy', was born at the large property in 1747 Equipped: In addition to the seven-bedroom mansion, the property also boasts three guest cottages Then in 1776 he was given command of his own ship, and began an incredibly successful career as a naval captain and celebrity figure in the revolution. In 1777 he sailed to France - becoming close friends with Benjamin Franklin - and was integral to the creation of an alliance with the country.

From there he led raids on the British home waters - and perhaps most famously captained a raid on Whitehaven. After this, Jones even crossed from Whitehaven to Scotland in a failed attempt to capture the Earl of Selkirk and hold him ransom. The attempted kidnapping and the raid on Whitehaven had a huge effect on British morale, bringing the North American conflict to their own doorsteps. As the captain of the USS Bonhomme Richard he was later engaged in one of the most famous battles in US Naval history in 1779. Flying the nest: In 1761, Jones went to sea as a 13-year-old sailor aboard British merchant and slave ships Hero: Jones enjoyed a successful career as a naval captain and celebrity figure in the revolution after he was given command of his own ship in 1776 Remembered: Today Jones is widely taught in high school history classrooms across America In a three and a half hour battle off the coast of Yorkshire Jones captured two British ships. It is famously said he replied to a British request to surrender with the defiant phrase: 'I have not yet begun to fight.' From there Jones faded into obscurity among his peers - eventually dying in France where he was buried in an unmarked grave.

But today he is remembered throughout the US and is widely taught in high school history classrooms across the country. The original building at Arbigland House was McCulloch's Castle, which was used from the Iron Age up to around 1500. In 1679 the Craik family bought the land and transformed it into the estate that still stands today. Quaint: The beautiful property comes with its own private woodlands as well as stunning views of a lake Nature: The Georgian property boasts incredible coastal gardens in addition to its three cottages and mansion John Paul Jones - American Revolution - HISTORY.com Google Jones was born in Scotland and was apprenticed in 1761 to a merchant. At thirteen years of age he began his career at sea, as a ship’s boy on the Friendship sailing between Britain and Virginia and the West Indies. Over the next fourteen years he learned the ways of the sea, sailing on merchant ships, including slavers. By age twenty-one he was the captain of a merchantman sailing between the West Indies and British ports.

On one of these voyages in 1769, he had the ship’s carpenter whipped; not long afterward the carpenter died and Jones faced a charge of murder but was later freed. In 1773, he put down a mutiny, running his sword through the ringleader in the process, and fled to America to avoid trial in a civil court. Shortly after the Revolution began, he was in Philadelphia and through the friendship of Joseph Hewes, a delegate to the Continental Congress, was commissioned as first lieutenant on the Alfred in the Continental navy. Jones proved himself a capable officer in action on the Alfred and on the sloop Providence which he commanded in 1776. The next year Congress sent him to France as captain of the Ranger with orders to attack enemy commerce in British waters. His greatest success on the Ranger came in April 1778 when he sailed from Brest for the Irish Sea and then to Whitehaven. This superb foray saw him fail in his attempt to abduct the Earl of Selkirk, whom he intended to exchange for Americans held by the British, but he captured the sloop of war Drake in a fierce struggle.

By May 8, the Ranger was back at Brest with seven prizes and many prisoners, having created a furor in the British press. The French now took note of Jones and sent him off in August 1779 in command of a fleet of five naval vessels and two privateers. This voyage carried Jones and his ships clockwise around the British Isles. Jones’s ship was the Bonhomme Richard, around nine hundred tons and slow, but the most heavily armed vessel he had commanded. Prizes were taken, but an attempt to extort ransom from Leith, Edinburgh’s seaport, failed. The fleet sailed on until September 23, when Jones fought one of the great battles of the Revolution off the Yorkshire coast. The enemy was the Serapis, one of the British escorts of a large convoy. In the battle, mostly fought in moonlight, the Bonhomme Richard grappled with the Serapis. With the two vessels lashed together, the British captain asked Jones if he wished to surrender and received the famous reply, “I have not yet begun to fight.” Indeed Jones had not, and when the night’s work was done, he accepted the surrender of his enemy.

This victory was the high point of John Paul Jones’s war–and life. After the war, he served in the Russian navy in the Black Sea in a war with the Turks. He died in Paris, still an American citizen and one of the great heroes of the U.S. Navy. The Reader’s Companion to American History. Eric Foner and John A. Garraty, Editors. Copyright © 1991 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Tags U.S. Navy - John Paul Jones John Paul Jones A founder of the U.S. Navy John Paul was born at Arbigland, Kirkbean, Kirkcudbright, Scotland, 6 July 1747. Apprenticed to a merchant at age 13, he went to sea in the brig Friendship to learn the art of seamanship. At 21, he received his first command, the brig John. After several successful years as a merchant skipper in the West Indies trade, John Paul emigrated to the British colonies in North America and there added "Jones" to his name. At the outbreak of the American Revolution, Jones was in Virginia.

He cast his lot with the rebels, and on 7 December 1775, he was commissioned first lieutenant in the Continental Navy, serving aboard Esek Hopkins' flagship Alfred. As First Lieutenant in Alfred, he was the first to hoist the Grand Union flag on a Continental warship. On 1 November 1777, he commanded the Ranger, sailing for France. Sailing into Quiberon Bay, France, 14 February 1778, Jones and Admiral La Motte Piquet changed gun salutes -- the first time that the Stars and Stripes, the flag of the new nation, was officially recognized by a foreign government. Early in 1779, the French King gave Jones an ancient East Indiaman Duc de Duras, which Jones refitted, repaired, and renamed Bon Homme Richard as a compliment to his patron Benjamin Franklin. Commanding four other ships and two French privateers, he sailed 14 August 1779 to raid English shipping. On 23 September 1779, his ship engaged the HMS Serapis in the North Sea off Famborough Head, England.

Richard was blasted in the initial broadside the two ships exchanged, losing much of her firepower and many of her gunners. Captain Richard Pearson, commanding Serapis, called out to Jones, asking if he surrendered. Jones' reply: "I have not yet begun to fight!" It was a bloody battle with the two ship literally locked in combat. Sharpshooting Marines and seamen in Richard's tops raked Serapis with gunfire, clearing the weather decks. Jones and his crew tenaciously fought on , even though their ship was sinking beneath them. Finally, Capt. Pearson tore down his colors and Serapis surrendered. Bon Homme Richard sunk the next day and Jones was forced to transfer to Serapis. After the American Revolution, Jones served as a Rear Admiral in the service of Empress Catherine of Russia, but returned to Paris in 1790. He died in Paris at the age of 45 on 18 July 1792. He was buried in St. Louis Cemetery, which belonged to the French royal family. Four years later, France's revolutionary government sold the property and the cemetery was forgotten. In 1845, Col. John H.

Sherburne began a campaign to return Jones' remains to the United States. He wrote Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft and requested the body be brought home aboard a ship of the Mediterrean Squadron. Six years later, preliminary arrangements were made, but the plans fell through when several of Jones' Scottish relatives objected. Had they not, another problem would have arisen. Jones was in an unmarked grave and no one knew exactly where that was. American Ambassador Horace Porter began a systematic search for it in 1899. The burial place and Jones' body was discovered in April 1905. President Theodore Roosevelt sent four cruisers to bring it back to the U.S., and these ships were escorted up the Chesapeake Bay by seven battleships. On 26 January 1913, the remains of John Paul Jones were laid to rest in the crypt of the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel in Annapolis, Md. Today, a Marine honor guard stands duty whenever the crypt is open to the public. Public visiting hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays through Saturdays, and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Portrait by A.S. Conrad; battle scene by James Hamilton (1819-1878) Reviewed: 20 August 2009 John Paul Jones - Wikiquote John Paul Jones Jump to: navigation , search I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm 's way. John Paul Jones ( 6 July 1747 – 18 July 1792 ) was a Scottish American sailor and the United States ' first well-known naval fighter in the American Revolutionary War . Although he made many friends and enemies among America's political elites, his actions in British waters during the Revolution earned him an international reputation which persists to this day. As such, he is sometimes referred to as the "Father of the American Navy" (an epithet he shares with John Barry ). He later served in the Imperial Russian Navy , subsequently obtaining the rank of rear admiral . Contents Where men of fine feeling are concerned there is seldom misunderstanding. I have not yet begun to fight ! The political principles for which we are now contending they can never be practically applied or even admitted on board ship, out of port, or off soundings.

This may seem a hardship, but it is nevertheless the simplest of truths. Whilst the ships sent forth by the Congress may and must fight for the principles of human rights and republican freedom, the ships themselves must be ruled and commanded at sea under a system of absolute despotism. A navy is essentially and necessarily aristocratic. True as may be the political principles for which we are now contending they can never be practically applied or even admitted on board ship, out of port, or off soundings. This may seem a hardship, but it is nevertheless the simplest of truths. Whilst the ships sent forth by the Congress may and must fight for the principles of human rights and republican freedom, the ships themselves must be ruled and commanded at sea under a system of absolute despotism. Letter to the Naval Committee of Congress (14 September 1775) I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm 's way. Letter to Le Ray de Chaumont (16 November 1778), as quoted in The Naval History of the United States (1890) by Willis John Abbot, p. 82 I have not yet begun to fight !

His famous response, in the early phase of the Battle of Flamborough Head, (23 September 1779) to an inquiry by his opponent (Captain Richard Pearson of the Royal Navy ship HMS Serapis) as to whether he was surrendering his ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, as recounted in the reminiscences of Jones's First Lieutenant, Richard Dale , as published in The Life and Character of John Paul Jones, a Captain in the United States Navy (1825) by John Henry Sherburne: ...the Bon Homme Richard, having head way, ran her bows into the stern of the Serapis. We had remained in this situation but a few minutes when we were again hailed by the Serapis, "Has your ship struck?" To which Captain Jones answered, "I have not yet begun to fight!" In Naval teminology to "strike the colours" means to haul down the ship's flag to signify surrender, but here the use of the ship as subject of the sentence may imply a pun on the non-naval use of "struck". I may sink, but I'll be damned if I strike!

His much less famous response, in the late phase of the Battle of Flamborough Head, 23 September 1779, to an inquiry by his opponent (Captain Richard Pearson of the Royal Navy ship HMS Serapis) as to whether he was surrendering his ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard, which was by this time very seriously damaged. This was what some of his sailors, reported in British newspapers at the time, claimed he had said; Jones's official report merely stated that he had answered "in the most determined negative". Where men of fine feeling are concerned there is seldom misunderstanding. Letter from Jones to the Marquis de Lafayette, (1 May 1779) American Heroes: John Paul Jones, Father of the American Navy | US Patriot Tactical Blog American Heroes: John Paul Jones, Father of the American Navy This is the man known as The Father of the American Navy; need I say more? Of course I will. This is the man who once said “I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast, for I intend to go in harm’s way,” and he meant it.

His love of the water and ships began at an early age, and by the age of 12 he was pretty much a permanent fixture working as a sailor. He came to America at the age of 26 and secured his first command mission as captain of the Providence, which was a 21-gun sloop and led to his taking over 16 ships in 6 weeks. Jones proved his mettle fast and was known for being maybe a little mean, but his surly nature and possible Napoleon complex – historians place his height around 5’5” – paid off. Portrait of John Paul Jones by George Bagby Matthews It was, after all, his tendency towards being mean (read: aggressive) that appears to have landed him in the Colonies to begin with. Back in 1773, he was a Scotsman in command of the Betsy after spending years working his way up through the ranks on a slave-trading vessel, the aptly named John. It was on the Betsy that a particular sailor instigated a mutiny, and that particular sailor apparently believed challenging Jones was his ticket to fame and riches (or something).

Watching as the sailor fomented a mutiny, Jones did what any captain faced with an uprising would do – he drew his sword. In response, the trouble-making sailor snagged a hunk of wood and came at Jones swinging. After successfully blocking his mutinous attacker’s assault a few times, Jones ended up stabbing him in self-defense. And that’s when it got weird. It was Jones who gave the tale of self-defense, and though that was probably true, it doesn’t entirely explain what happened next. The sailor Jones ran through with his trusty sword died, and in response, Jones immediately took off. He headed for the Colonies incognito, apparently intending to reinvent himself. Historians speculate the death was grounds for fleeing because the dead sailor had been a Tobagoan – a local to the island they’d made port at – and it’s likely the citizenry took the death rather personally. Either way, their loss was our gain, and the future Father of the American Navy made his way to American soil.

Jones later referred to the near-mutiny as “the Great Misfortune of My Life” but also said it at least got him on his way to his “favorite country” – yes, he’d longed for America for some time, apparently. “I can take no delight in the effusion of human blood, but if this war should continue, I wish to have the most active part in it.” John Paul Jones There was a brief window of time where Jones seemed to have thought he’d simply retire from naval service of any kind. Of course, we all know that didn’t happen (and thank goodness for small favors). Until his arrival in America, he’d been simply John Paul; it was after his arrival to our shores he added “Jones” to his name. Our Original Navy American Hero arrived in the Colonies right as tensions between America and England came to a head, and after a brief pause, Jones offered his skills to the Navy. Jones said he had long since studied and enjoyed “the art of war by sea” and admitted he had a deeply rooted love of liberty.

The Brits, he felt, had “violated rights of mankind,” and Jones, apparently an idealist and romantic by many accounts, was always game for a good fight. Continental Ship Alfred (1775-1778) Painting in oils by W. Nowland Van Powell, depicting Lieutenant John Paul Jones raising the “Grand Union” flag as Alfred was placed in commission at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 3 December 1775. Commanded by Captain Dudley Saltonstall, Alfred was flagship of Commodore Esek Hopkins’ Continental Navy flotilla during the remainder of 1775 and the first four months of 1776. Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington, D.C. Donation of the Memphis Council, U.S. Navy League, 1776[sic]. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. John Paul Jones was the first man ever to hoist a United States Naval Ensign on a United States ship. That ship was the 30-gun Alfred, and on the Alfred Jones served as second in command. For months Jones used the Alfred to sail up and down the East Coast, but not on a pleasure cruise.

No, Jones’ idea of a good time was sacking and plundering British vessels that were attempting to get supplies to the Redcoats. Thanks to his efforts, countless important supplies ended up in American hands rather than British. Of course, his efforts also succeeded in annoying the Brits to no end, but Jones wasn’t worried about that. After all, he had always been a bit of an outlaw, and he had badassery to spare. Later, as the captain of the USS Bonhomme Richard, Jones took his most famous stand against the attacking Brits. The British naval fleet was significantly larger than ours, and it was men like Jones who made it possible for us to not only persevere but triumph at sea. It was on September 23, 1779, Jones and his ship faced off with a fleet of 40 British merchantmen, who were, of course, being escorted by the Serapis, a 44-gun frigate, and the Countess of Scarborough, a 28-gun frigate. Jones had a much smaller squadron, but believed he and his U.S. warships were more than capable of winning the day, and he ordered an attack.

It was the battle between the Bonhomme Richard and the Serapis that became legendary; the two ships battled abreast one another, with the Serapis quickly destroying several of Jones’ main cannons and effectively crippling his ship. In no time, Jones and his men were forced to abandon the guns on the lower deck and parts of the ship even caught fire as devastating holes were blown into the ship’s hull. Finally, another mighty blow from the Serapis knocked the Bonhomme Richard’s mast off, and Captain Pearson of the Serapis called across – yes, that’s how close they were, he simply leaned over and asked – if Jones was surrendering. That is when John Paul Jones delivered the line he is best known for: “Surrender? I have not yet begun to fight!” Now he was mad, because Jones then rammed the other ship with his own clearly mangled one and ordered his men to lash the ships together. His men kept up the musket fire and fought wildly, and despite a British attempt to board the Bonhomme Richard, it was Jones and his men who boarded the Serapis, forced her surrender, and declared victory. Jones knew a fight wasn’t over when he still had breath in his body, and fight he did.

“…without a respectable Navy, alas America!” John Paul Jones Jones hoists rattlesnake flag on the Alfred John Paul Jones was known for many things, including his strategic thinking. It was Jones who understood the importance of taking the enemy by surprise – something not seen as “gentlemanly” at the time. He was also known for his foresight in suggesting the Navy promote based on merit rather than on what boiled down to nothing better than nepotism. And let’s not forget his talent for modifying his ships for greater speed: Jones knew when to remove guns or add lead ballast, when to cut sails into new shapes, and even understood the value of having the crew thoroughly scrape the bottoms of his ships. Although he may have possessed some less-than-desirable traits, John Paul Jones was the Original American Navy Hero. Without him, the direction of the Revolutionary War at sea may well have gone quite differently, and the Navy at large probably would have gone in some random direction. Men like Jones personified the tenacious spirit and ferocious fight Americans came to be known for, and one can only hope Americans today will remember his drive and follow suit.

As Jones knew, the world is constantly changing, and Americans must adapt and wade into fights with both fists raised. Bloody and bruised we may be, perhaps, but not defeated; do like John Paul Jones and refuse to surrender. “It seems to be a law of nature, inflexible and inexorable, that those who will not risk cannot win.” John Paul Jones

Question: Considered the father of the US Navy, what Revolutionary War hero is famous for his "I have not yet begun to fight!" quote?
Answer: John Paul Jones