Historian of the Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Philadelphia " I serve the country for nothing "— Barry " May a suitable recompense always attend your bravery "— Washington PHILADELPHIA 1908 Dedicated TO The Society of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick for the Relief of Emigrants from Ireland ST. PATRICK'S DAY 1908 Martin I.J. Griffin , Historian of the Society . Copyright 1908...

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His Naval Renown—His Career in the Colonial Mercantile Marine Service—Appointed to the "Lexington" by the Continental Marine Committee—His First Cruise. The American Navy by its achievements has won enduring fame and imperishable honor. The careers of many of its heroes have been narrated fully, and oft in fulsome terms. All Americans unite in these tributes of praise where justly due. JOHN BARRY has, aptly and justly, been called " The Father of the American Navy ." His early, constant and wort

Captures the "Edward"—His Prisoner Richard Dale—Importance of the Prize—Barry Unknown to or Ignored by Captain Hobson. The "Lexington" cruised off the coast of Virginia a week without meeting with the enemy. Barry had gone to sea on Sunday. The Sunday following, April 7, 1776, while off the "Capes of Virginia" he "fell in with the sloop 'Edward' belonging to the 'Liverpool' frigate" and "shattered her in a terrible manner," as he reported to the Marine Committee, after an engagement of "near two

Barry Appointed to Command Defensive Operations in Delaware Bay and River—Captures British Supplies and Protects American—Saves the Cargo of the "Nancy" and Explodes Her when the British Board Her—Captures the "Lady Susan" and the "Betsy"—Appointed to the "Effingham." The "Lexington" was not in a condition to then proceed on another expedition, as she needed fitting up. Yet Captain Barry was not permitted to be idle. On May 8th, Robert Morris, for the Marine Committee of Congress, directed him t

Barry Appointed to the "Effingham"—The Question of Rank—Barry Engages in the Trenton Campaign—An Aide to Washington and to Cadwallader—Commander of the Port of Philadelphia—Strike of the Navy Lieutenants—Operations of Barry on the Delaware. A reorganization of the Navy of the United Colonies took place on October 10, 1776, when assignments were made of the several armed vessels then belonging to the "United States," as that was the title Congress had, on September 9th, ordered to be used in all

The British Capture Philadelphia—Activity of Barry—Commander of Navy at Port of Philadelphia—Battle at Red Bank—Ordered by Washington and Navy Board to Sink the Vessels on the Upper Delaware—Protests—Declared He knew more about a Ship than Washington and the Board—Charged with Disrespect—His Defense to Congress—His Brilliant Operations on the Delaware. The British, in 1776 having failed to reach Philadelphia by the northward way through New Jersey, planned the 1777 campaigns to end with the capt

Barry Attacks the British Supply Ships below Philadelphia—Captures Three—Sends Supplies to Washington at Valley Forge—Thanks of Washington—Was Barry Offered a British Command? The expedition assigned to Captain Barry which he came near being deprived of by Congress was a cruise in the Delaware River. The Marine Committee, not being directed not to employ Barry, on January 29, 1778, directed him to fit out the pinnace and barges belonging to the frigates for "a cruise in said river under your com

Praise for Barry's Success—British Destroy Barry's "Effingham" and Other Vessels on the Upper Delaware—Appointed to the "Raleigh"—Protects the Coast from North Carolina to Massachusetts—Encounter with two British Frigates—Barry Runs the "Raleigh" Ashore—His Action Approved and His Bravery Declared. Barry's operations on the Delaware were of foremost importance at this period of gloom and darkness. The British were in possession of Philadelphia, the Capital of "the rebels." Washington's men were

Barry Appointed to Command an Expedition Against Florida—Expedition Abandoned, Barry Enters the Pennsylvania Privateer Service—Makes Captures—Resists the Imprisonment of His Crew—"My Name is John Barry." That the loss of the "Raleigh" brought no discredit upon Captain Barry, but rather added to his reputation as a brave and skillful commander is attested by the action of the Marine Committee in appointing him to command an expedition against East Florida. Major-General Lincoln was to command the

Captain Barry Appointed to Superintend the Building of the "America," Frigate—Given Command of the "Alliance" as Successor of Landais, the Frenchman—The Discovery of Arnold's Treason—"Whom can we trust now?"—The Answer to Arnold. The Continental 74 to which Captain Barry was sent immediately on his arrival at Philadelphia in the "Delaware" was the frigate "America," then building at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. To this command he was appointed on November 6, 1779, by the Marine Committee of Congre

The "Alliance" Sails for France—Captures a British Cruiser—Return to America—The Loss of the "La Fayette"—Mutiny. The selection of John Barry, at this crisis in our country's struggle for Liberty and Independence, to the command of the foremost ship of the new Republic is a most conspicuous and honorable testimony to his merits, abilities and services. None additional is needed. The "Alliance" was selected to convey Colonel John Laurens as a special Commissioner to France to seek "an immediate,

John Paul Jones Seeks to be "Head of the Navy" in Place of Barry—Barry Takes Lafayette to France, After the Surrender of Cornwallis, on "Business of the Utmost Importance"—Ordered to take no Prizes—Lands Lafayette—Returns to America . On July 25, 1781, Captain Barry reported to the Board of Admiralty that he was "almost recovered" of his wound and in a few days would be able for duty, his presence being very requisite on account of the scarcity of officers. He made recommendations for places. On

A Most Successful Cruise—Nine Prizes. The "Alliance" while at New London was fitted out for a cruise on which she started August 4, 1782, at four o'clock in the morning. Barry had a few days before an interview with General Washington. By seven o'clock Barry had captured from the enemy a brig laden with lumber and fish which "had been cut out of Rhode Island by the enemy." The cruise was first to the Bermudas and then to the Banks of New Foundland. On August 9th Barry took the schooner "Polly" b

Officers of the "Alliance" Refuse to Serve—Peace. Though in October Captain Barry hoped in a few days to proceed on a cruise it was not until December 8, 1782, that he was ready to sail, which he did the next day. Lieutenants Patrick Fletcher and Nicholas Gardner, John Buckley, Master; James Geagan, Surgeon, and Samuel Cooper, Purser, demanded two-thirds of their wages, "though they had received as much prize-money as they knew what to do with." Captain Barry informed them that he had no authori

The Last Battle of the Revolution. Captain Barry's foresight in having everything ready for war, although the preliminary articles of peace had been signed, was soon manifested. The "Alliance" left Havana on March 6, 1783, in company with the "Duc de Lauzun," commanded by Captain Greene. There also sailed nine Spanish warships. Not knowing where the Spaniards were bound to, Captain Barry decided to make his own way and ordered Captain Greene to follow him. The "Alliance" and "Lauzun" had seventy

Barry Visits the "Sybille" on His Return to Philadelphia—Peace is Declared—Ordered to Amsterdam with Tobacco—The "Alliance" Becomes Disabled—Is Ordered Sold. After Captain Barry had arrived at New London it was nearly three months before he came on to Philadelphia. Mrs. Barry had, in April, gone on to New London. Captain Barry returned home by way of New York. The "Sybille" was there. Captain Barry visited her and was "politely treated" by Captain Vashon. The vessel yet bore the marks of the inj

After the War Barry Secures the Adoption of the New Federal Constitution by Forcing a Quorum of the Assembly—Is Sued—Goes to China in Command of the "Asia," a Merchant Vessel. After the sale of the "Alliance," Captain Barry "rested from his labors," but yet concerned about many things pertaining to his friends and their interests. We find him recommending subordinate officers for positions in the merchant service, in petitioning Congress that officers of the Navy be put on "a footing similar to

Captain Barry Offers His Services to President Washington in Case of War Against the Algerines. In 1793 France and England engaged in war, seized each other's vessels on the American coast and often within American waters. The Algerines were committing depredations on American commerce. Hence a naval force was necessary. When Congress assembled in December, 1793, the building of frigates early engaged attention, not only to protect commerce from the ravages of the Algerines but from the aggressi

Appointed to Superintend the Building of the Frigate, the "United States," the First of the New Navy—Goes to Georgia to Select Timber for the Four Frigates. On April 12, 1794, Joshua Humphreys, of Philadelphia, was directed by General Knox, Secretary of War—there was no Department of the Navy until 1798—to prepare models for the frame of the frigates to be built. On June 28th, Humphreys was appointed "Constructor or Master-Builder of a 44-gun ship to be built at the port of Philadelphia at the r

Launch of the "United States"—War with France—Barry Commands the American Fleet in the West Indies—Captures the "San Pareil"—Again sent to the West Indies—Barry Fires on the French Batteries at Basse Terre—To France Again—Death of Our Hero. The frigate "United States" though launched in May, 1797, was not ready for sea until July, 1798, when, on 3d July, the new Secretary of the new Department—the Navy—Hon. Benjamin Stoddert, directed Captain Barry "to proceed to sea with the first fair wind," a