John Barry (1745 - 13 September 1803) was an officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War and later in the United States Navy. Barry was born in Tacumshane, County Wexford, Ireland and appointed a Captain in the Continental Navy 07 December 1775. He commanded Lexington and Alliance. 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. He was seriously wounded 29 May 1781 while in command of Alliance during her capture of HMS Atalanta and Trepassey. Barry was successful in suppressing three mutinies during his career as an officer in the Continental Navy. 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. Barry also suggested the creation of a Department of the Navy with separate cabinet status from the Secretary of War. This was finally realized with the formation of the United States Department of the Navy in 1798. Barry's suggestions about establishing government-operated navy yards were also realized, and in particular he had a hand in the establishment of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. His 17-year span of national service and his training of so many of the heroes of the War of 1812 under Barry's tutelage earned him the sobriquet, "Father of the Navy." Barry, having recruited a company of volunteers for land service, took part in the Trenton campaign in December 1776. These volunteers and the marines cooperating with them were commended by General George Washington. Barry acted as an aide to General John Cadwalader, and was sent on several occasions as a bearer of important dispatches. His next duty was assisting in the defense of Philadelphia and operations in the upper Delaware River. When the British took possession of Philadelphia in September 1777, Captain Barrywas ordered to take the uncompleted Continental frigate Effingham up the Delaware River to a place of safety. In October, the ship was ordered sunk or burned. She was sunk on 02 November, near Bordentown, New Jersey, to deny her use to the British. Commodore Barry died at Strawberry Hill, in present-day Philadelphia on 13 September 1803, and was buried there in St. Mary's Cemetery.