THE FIRST REGULAR
CRUISER THAT GOT TO SEA UNDER THE AUTHORITY
OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS AND THE VESSEL
THAT FIRST CARRIED THE AMERICAN FLAG
UPON THE OCEAN.

On March 18, 1895, the Hibernian Society for the Relief of Emigrants
from Ireland, now the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, presented the City
of Philadelphia a copy, by Colon Campbell Cooper, of Gilbert Stuart's
portrait of Commodore Barry, to be placed in Independence Hall. Hon.
Edwin Stuart, President of the Society and Mayor of the City and now
[1908] Governor of Pennsylvania, presided and accepted the portrait on
its presentation by General St. Clair Mulholland, who declared Commodore
Barry to have been "one of the most illustrious of Ireland's sons, a
brilliant child of the wind and waves, a heroic warrior of the sea who
never knew defeat, the Father and Founder of the Navy of the United
States. The Navy that from the beginning has been the admiration and
model of all the nations of the earth."

[Illustration: STATUE OF COMMODORE BARRY, INDEPENDENCE SQUARE,
PHILADELPHIA]

On March 22, 1902, the torpedo boat destroyer the "Barry" was launched
at the Neafie & Levy's shipyard. It was "christened" by Miss Elizabeth
Adams Barnes, the great-great-grandniece of Commodore Barry and daughter
of Captain John S. Barnes, U.S. Navy, retired, of New York City.

In July, 1902, Hon. M.E. Driscoll, of Syracuse, New York, proposed a
Bill in the National House of Representatives appropriating fifty
thousand dollars "to erect in Washington a monument inscribed

"JOHN BARRY

"THE FATHER OF THE AMERICAN NAVY."

At that and the next Sessions of Congress the Bill did not, in either
Session, pass both Houses, but in the Session of 1906 it passed and was
signed by President Roosevelt.

A site near the new Union Depot has been selected and, after the delay,
usual in all governmental monumental projects, the monument will stand
in a most conspicuous location in the Capital of the Nation.

On March 16, 1907, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Philadelphia
presented to the City of Philadelphia the bronze statue of Commodore
Barry which now stands in Independence Square. It cost $10,500: was
designed and executed by Samuel Murray, sculptor, of Philadelphia.
General St. Clair Mulholland, on behalf of the Committee, presented the
statue to the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick. Rear Admiral Melville, U.S.
Navy, retired, presented it to the City. It was a