Barry (DD 933) - Naval Cruise Book

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- » COMMODORE JOHN BARRY John BARRY was born in 1 745 in the Village of Ballysampson in Wexford County, Ireland, and was only ten when he ran away from an oppressed Ireland as a cabin boy on a merchantman. BARRY adopted America as his home, and at 21 was a merchant shipmaster out of Philadelphia. At 30, he had become one of the colonies most renowned sea Captains, and holder of the speed record for the trans-Atlantic route. When the American Revolution began, BARRY at once embraced the cause of the colonies. He offered his services and received the first commission in the Continental U.S. Navy. Between the years 1776 and 1780 BARRY distinguished himself in various Naval engagements while commanding such ships as the Lexington, Effingham, Raleigh and the Alliance. BARRY fought the last engagement of the Revolutionary War on March 10, 1783. Three British frigates sought to intercept him off the coast of Florida but he fought them off, badly damaging the frigate SYBIL. Following the cessation of hostilities he was appointed to superintend the building of the frigate UNITED STATES in Philadelphia, which he commanded thereafter. In 1793, President George Washington called upon BARRY to serve as the Navy ' s senior and first commissioned officer with the title of Commodore. It was at this time that he gained the reputation as the Father of the American Navy , having been instrumental in the establishment of the Navy Department. In September, 1803, after many years of service to his country. Commodore BARRY died at his home in Philadelphia where he is buried.