Commodore Barry, the founder of the American Navy, was born in County Wexford, Ireland, in the year 1745.  At the age of fourteen he left home for a life on

       “The sea, the sea, the open sea,
       The blue, the fresh, the ever free.”

On board trading vessels he made several voyages to America.  He spent his leisure hours in reading and study, and in this way soon acquired a general and practical education.  By fidelity to duty, he advanced so rapidly in his profession that at the age of twenty-five we find him in command of the Black Prince, one of the finest merchant vessels then running between Philadelphia and London.

When the Revolution broke out between the Colonies and England, our gallant Commodore gave up the command of his ship, and without delay or hesitation espoused the cause of his adopted country.  Congress purchased a few vessels, had them fitted out for war, and placed the little fleet under the command of Captain Barry.  His flagship was the Lexington, named after the first battle of the Revolution; and Congress having at this time adopted a national flag, the Star-spangled Banner, the Lexington was the first to hoist this ensign of freedom.

From the time of the fitting out of the Lexington down to the time of the declaration of peace, which assured the liberation of the Colonies from the thraldom of Great Britain, Commodore Barry was constantly engaged on shore and afloat.  Though he actually participated in upwards of twenty sea fights, always against a force superior to his own, he never once struck his flag to the enemy.  The field of his operations ranged all the way from the capes of the Delaware to the West Indies, and as far east as the coast of Maine and Newfoundland.  His victories were hailed with joy throughout the country, and Barry and his men were publicly thanked by General Washington.

During the darkest days of the War, while Washington was spending the winter of 1777 in camp at Valley Forge, with our brave soldiers perishing for want of provisions, blankets, clothing and tents, an incident occurred which shows how supremely loyal and devoted Commodore Barry was to the American cause.  The British troops were occupying Philadelphia.  Lord Howe, their commander, offered our great sea fighter a bribe of fifty thousand guineas and the command of a ship of war, if he would abandon the American cause and enter the service of England.  Barry’s indignant reply should be written in letters of gold:  “I have engaged in the service of my adopted country, and neither the value nor the command of the whole British fleet can seduce me from it.”

General Washington had the utmost confidence in the pluck and daring and loyalty of Barry.  He selected him as the best and safest man to be trusted with the important mission of carrying our commissioners to France to secure that alliance and assistance which we then so sorely needed.