According to historian Martin I. J. Griffin, Barry was “born in the townland of Ballysampson and lived his boyhood in the townland of Rostoonstown, both in the parish of Tacumshane.”
Some stories suggest that Barry’s father was a tenant farmer who was evicted by a British landlord and had to relocate to nearby Rosslare, about four miles away.
Griffin’s book, The Story of Commodore John Barry, Father of the American Navy, published in 1908, notes that “Tacumshane Parish covers 3,000 acres and is situated between two townland locked gulfs with very narrow openings - Lake Tacumshin and Lady's Island Lake. Possibly these lakes gave young Barry the inspiration for the sea and upon both he in youth oft pulled the oar,” Griffin writes.
Barry’s uncle Nicholas Barry was a ship master out of Rosslare Harbor, and John likely began his sea training there. Griffin speculates that Barry “left home without the knowledge of his friends, went to Spanishtown in the island of Jamaica; and came to Philadelphia” around 1760, when he was 15. By the age of 21, Barry was captain of the schooner Barbados, and his ship logs indicate frequent trips between Philadelphia, the West Indies and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
When the war broke out Barry offered his services to the colonial side, and was commissioned by George Washington to command Brig Lexington, the first ship to fly the American flag and named for the first battle of the war in Lexington, Massachusetts. In April, 1776, Lexington captured the British ship Edward, marking the first American naval victory in the American Revolution.
From there Barry participated in numerous battles throughout the war, including land battles in Trenton and Princeton.
In 1780 Barry was assigned command of the Alliance frigate, named in honor of the alliance with France, and escorted a congressional delegation to France for diplomatic meetings. On the way back, Alliance encountered two British man of war ships, the Atlanta and the Trespessy, which he captured. During the battle Barry was severely wounded.
According to the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, “On the final cruise of the Alliance (in 1782), Barry patrolled the shipping lanes from Bermuda to Cape Sable and captured four British ships. He fought the last battle of the war (March 1783) in the Straits of Florida, where he saw off three British frigates attempting to seize his ship.”
In 1794, when the American navy was being reorganized, Barry was promoted as Commodore, which he held until his death on Sept 13, 1803.
President George Washington, in his letter of appointment, wrote to Barry, "The President of the United States, reposing special trust and confidence in your patriotism, valor, fidelity and abilities, have nominated and by the consent of the Senate appoint you Captain in the Navy of the United States and Commander of the frigate called the United States, to take rank from the fourth day of June 1794.”
Barry married Mary Clary on October 31, 1767, who died in 1774, then remarried Sarah on July 7, 1777. Barry himself died at age 58 on September 13, 1803, from complications with asthma. He, along with his two wives and other relatives, are buried at Saint Mary's Catholic Churchyard in Philadelphia.
President John F. Kennedy was a great admirer of Commodore Barry. In addition to sharing a love of the sea and sailing, both men traced their lineage to County Wexford. JFK displayed Barry’s sword and flag in his office at the White House, and nearby was a portrait of Commodore Barry, painted by Gilbert Stuart in Cross Hall.
When President Kennedy visited Ireland in June 1963, he laid a wreath at the John Barry statue in Wexford.
See more Barry artifacts at the JFK Library.
The JFK Library recently lent Barry's cutlas to the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, on display through July 2024.
Read more about John Barry here, and visit the Commodore Barry plaque on Boston Common, which is along the Boston Irish Heritage Trail.
Research + Text, Michael Quinlin
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