MERICAN NAVY.

LET THE CHRISTIAN, PATRIOT AND SOLDIER WHO VISITS THESE
MANSIONS OF THE DEAD VIEW THIS MONUMENT WITH RESPECT
AND VENERATION.

BENEATH IT RESTS THE REMAINS OF JOHN BARRY, WHO WAS
BORN IN THE COUNTY WEXFORD, IRELAND, IN THE YEAR 1745.

AMERICA WAS THE OBJECT OF HIS PATRIOTISM AND THE AIM OF
HIS USEFULNESS AND AMBITION.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR HE HELD THE
COMMISSION OF CAPTAIN IN THE THEN LIMITED NAVY OF THE
COLONIES.

HIS ACHIEVEMENTS IN BATTLE AND HIS RENOWNED NAVAL TACTICS
MERITED FOR HIM THE POSITION OF COMMODORE AND TO BE
JUSTLY REGARDED AS THE FATHER OF THE AMERICAN NAVY.

HE FOUGHT OFTEN AND BLED IN THE CAUSE OF FREEDOM, BUT
HIS DEEDS OF VALOR DID NOT DIMINISH IN HIM THE VIRTUES
WHICH ADORN HIS PRIVATE LIFE.

HE WAS EMINENTLY GENTLE, KIND, JUST AND CHARITABLE AND
NO LESS BELOVED BY HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAN BY HIS
GRATEFUL COUNTRY.

FIRM IN THE FAITH AND PRACTICES OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC
CHURCH, HE DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE 13TH DAY OF
SEPTEMBER IN THE 59TH YEAR OF HIS AGE.

IN GRATEFUL REMEMBRANCE, A FEW OF HIS COUNTRYMEN, MEMBERS
OF ST. MARY'S CHURCH AND OTHERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED
TOWARDS THIS SECOND MONUMENT, ERECTED JULY 1ST, 1876.

REQUIESCAT IN PACE.

[Illustration: STATUE OF COMMODORE BARRY, FAIRMOUNT PARK, PHILADELPHIA]

In the Centennial year, 1876, the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of
America erected in Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, at the foot of George's
Hill, a fountain costing $55,000. One of its five statues of heroic size
is that of Commodore John Barry. The sides of the base contain
inscriptions as follows:

On the east:

JOHN BARRY,
FIRST COMMODORE
OF THE
UNITED STATES NAVY.
BORN IN 1745
IN WEXFORD COUNTY, IRELAND.
DIED SEPTEMBER 13TH, 1803,
AT PHILADELPHIA.

On the west:

DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR HE DISTINGUISHED
HIMSELF GREATLY. HE FILLED THE VARIOUS
COMMANDS ENTRUSTED TO HIM WITH SKILL
AND GALLANTRY. WHEN UNABLE TO FIGHT
ON THE OCEAN HE OBTAINED COMMAND OF A
COMPANY OF VOLUNTEERS
AND FOUGHT AGAINST THE
ENEMY ON LAND.

AMONG HIS EXPLOITS WAS THE CAPTURE, UPON
MAY 29TH, 1781, OF TWO ENGLISH VESSELS,
THE ATALANTA AND TREPASA, AFTER A
HOTLY CONTESTED ACTION WITH HIS OWN
SHIP, THE ALLIANCE.

On the north:

IN JANUARY, 1776, HE COMMANDED
THE BRIG LEXINGTON,