Most people who live in the Philadelphia region have heard of the Commodore Barry Bridge. What many might not realize is that the bridge is named after someone who was actually born in Ireland!
Commodore John Barry was born in County Wexford, Ireland, in
1745. From a young age, he was strong in his Catholic faith and he held onto
this faith throughout his life. He moved to Philadelphia in the United States in1760 when he was still quite young. As he grew up, he became a shipmaster
and owner, which helped hone his skills for his future successes.
Commodore Barry is known for his seamanship. During the
Revolutionary War, he commanded the first warship that was commissioned under
the Continental Congress. Under his command, he secured several victories at
sea and protected American independence. Barry trained future naval officers
and wrote the first U.S. Navy signal book. Because of this, he is known as the “Father
of the American Navy.”
In his personal life, he was married twice. The identity of
his first wife is unclear, but her name was either Mary Burns or Mary Cleary. He
married his second wife, SarahAustin, on July 7, 1777. He did not have children in either of his
marriages.
Throughout his Navy career, he received praise for his
courage and skill at sea. He even received congratulations from George
Washington for his victories. He was one of the first American commodores and
the first American to capture a British ship (he captured the ship, “Edward,”in 1775). After the Revolutionary War, he was named senior captain of the
United States Navy. He fought in other wars and commanded the Navy in other
capacities.
Barry died in Philadelphia on September 13, 1803. To this
day, he is honored in both the United States and Ireland for his heroic efforts
and skills at sea. As mentioned before, there is a bridge named the Commodore
Barry Bridge outside of Philadelphia. Philadelphia’s Irish center is called the
Commodore John Barry Arts and Cultural Center. Even today, he is considered to
be the most important figure of the United States Navy.
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