  Captain Barry Offers His Services to President Washington in Case of War Against the Algerines. In 1793 France and England engaged in war, seized each other's vessels on the American coast and often within American waters. The Algerines were committing depredations on American commerce. Hence a naval force was necessary. When Congress assembled in December, 1793, the building of frigates early engaged attention, not only to protect commerce from the ravages of the Algerines but from the aggressions of France as well as from the violation of our neutrality by England. The United States was without a ship. Captain John Barry was prompt to offer his services to his country. On March 19, 1794, he wrote President Washington: "Sir:—Finding that the Government have partly determined to fit out some ships of war for the protection of our trade against the Algerines, I beg leave to offer myself for the command of the squadron, conceiving myself to be competent, thereto assuring your Excellency that should I be honored with your approbation, my utmost abilities and most unremitting attention should be exerted for the good of my country and also to approve myself worthy of the high honor shown by your Excellency. "To your Obedient, Humble Servant, A week later, March 27, 1794, Washington signed an Act declaring that "the depredations of the Algerine Corsairs on the commerce of the United States rendered it necessary that a naval force should be provided for its protection." This Act is the foundation of our present Navy. Congress ordered the building and equipment of three frigates of forty-four guns and three of lesser weight and tonnage. On June 5, 1794, public announcement was made of the appointment of six Captains to superintend the construction and to take command of the vessels thus ordered. The notice sent to Captain Barry read: "War Department, June 5, 1794. "Sir:—The President of the United States, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, has appointed you to be a Captain of one of the ships provided, in pursuance of the Act to provide a naval armament, herein enclosed. "It is understood that the relative rank of the Captains is to be in the following order: John Barry, You will please to inform me as soon as convenient whether you accept or decline the appointment. "I am, Sir, etc., "To "Henry Knox, Captain Barry at once accepted, saying: "Strawberry Hill, June 6, 1794. "The honor done me in appointing me Commander in the Navy of the United States is gratefully acknowledged and accepted by, Sir, The original is in the Force Collection in the Lenox Branch of the New York Public Library. The commission was not signed nor issued by Washington until February 22, 1797, when the frigate the "United States," built under the superintendency of Barry, was ready for launching at Philadelphia. The original commission is in possession of Barry's grand-niece, Mrs. W. Horace Hepburn, of Philadelphia. Captain Barney declined appointment because of the rank—the fourth—assigned him. Captain James Sever was appointed but given the sixth place. Captain Nicholson, at Boston, on June 14, 1794, congratulated Captain Barry on his "honorable appointment to the Command of our Navy." "Captain Barry," says Cooper's History of the Navy, "was the only one of the six surviving Captains of the Revolutionary War who was not born in America, but he had passed nearly all his life in it and was thoroughly identified with his adopted countrymen in interest and feeling. He had often distinguished himself during the Revolution and, perhaps, of all the naval Captains that remained, he was the one who possessed the greatest reputation for experience, conduct and skill. His appointment met with general approbation. Nor did anything ever occur to give the Government reason to regret its selection." So the County Wexford Irish Catholic boy had become the Commander-in-Chief of the new Navy of the new Constitutional United States. Appointed by Washington, "the Father of His Country," Barry thus became "the Father of the American Navy," in the many distinguished sons of the sea who were trained under him. His commission reads, "to take rank from the fourth day of June, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-four." There are gallant hearts whose glory —William Collins. |
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