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The statue of Commodore John Barry, by sculptor Samuel Murray, sits in the State House Yard behind Independence Hall. The base of the statue is dated 1908, but the plaque says it was presented to the City of Philadelphia by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in 1907.
John Barry (1745-1803), the Father of the American Navy, was an officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War and later in the United States Navy. Barry's first command came in 1766 aboard the schooner, Barbadoes, sailing out of Philadelphia, which Barry adopted as his home port. He commanded the USS Lexington, USS Raleigh, and USS Alliance. Barry was successful in suppressing three mutinies during his career as an officer in the Continental Navy. He was seriously wounded in 1781 while in command of the Alliance during her capture of HMS Atalanta and Trepassey. He and his crew of the Alliance fought and won the final naval battle of the American Revolution off the coast of Cape Canaveral on March 10, 1783. Appointed senior captain upon the establishment of the U.S. Navy, he commanded the frigate United States in the Quasi-War with France. Barry authored a Signal Book published in 1780 to improve communications at sea among vessels traveling in formation.
Independence National Historical Park preserves several sites associated with the American Revolution. Administered by the National Park Service, the 45-acre park was authorized in 1948, and established on July 4, 1956.
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