John Barry, born March 25, 1745, a Naval Captain during the Revolution. President Washington would make him a commodore.
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John Barry, naval officer; born in Tacumshane, Wexford co., Ireland, in 1745. He went to sea while he was very young, became the commander of a ship, and gained considerable wealth. In February, 1776, he was appointed by Congress to command the “Lexington,” fourteen guns, which, after a sharp action, captured the tender “Edward.” This was the first vessel captured by a commissioned officer of the United States navy. Barry was transferred to the frigate “Effingham;” and in the Delaware, at the head of four boats, he captured an English schooner, in 1777, without the loss of a man. He was publicly thanked by Washington. When Howe took Philadelphia, late in 1777, Barry took the “Effingham” up the Delaware with the hope of saving her, but she was burned by the British. Howe had offered him a large bribe if he would deliver the ship to him at Philadelphia, but it was scornfully rejected.
Barry took command of the “Raleigh,” 32, in September, 1778, but British cruisers compelled him to run her ashore in Penobscot Bay. In the frigate “Alliance,” in 1781, he sailed for France with Col. John Laurens, who was sent on a special mission; and afterwards he cruised successfully with that ship. At the close of May he captured the “Atlanta” and “Trespass,” after a severe fight. Returning in October, the “Alliance” was refitted, and, after taking Lafayette and the Count de Noailles to France, Barry cruised in the West Indies very successfully until May, 1782. After the reorganization of the United States navy in 1794, Barry was named the senior officer. He superintended the building of the frigate “United States,” to the command of which he was assigned, but never entered upon the duty. He died in Philadelphia, Sept. 13, 1803.