John Barry was born in Tacumshane County, Ireland back in 1745. His family was evicted from their home by a British landlord so the moved to Rosslare. As a young man, John was determined to live his life as a seaman starting out as a ship’s cabin boy.
Somewhere along the line he ended up in the American Colonies where he received his first captain’s commission in the Continental Navy in 1776. He was a religious man beginning each day at sea with a reading from the Bible. During his naval career, John commanded United States Ships Delaware, Lexington, Raleigh and Alliance.
I could go on and tell you about all the battles he fought in however, this would take three to four days so what say let’s cut to the point. He was the first captain placed in command of a US warship commissioned for service under the Continental flag. He is widely credited as “The Father of the American Navy”. He was also the first captain with the Continental Navy to capture a British man-of-war the HMS Liverpool in 1776. He died in 1803 in present day Philadelphia and is buried at Old St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Center City
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