![](https://www.tumblr.com/widgets/share/tool?posttype=photo&canonicalUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.erlita.com%2Falbums%2Flandmarks-historical-buildings%2Fcontent%2Fohn%2F&content=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.erlita.com%2Fstorage%2Fcache%2Fimages%2F000%2F125%2Fbarry%2Flarge.1605185068.jpg&caption=%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3E%3Ca href="http%3A%2F%2Fwww.erlita.com%2Falbums%2Flandmarks-historical-buildings%2Fcontent%2Fohn%2F" title="John Barry"%3EJohn Barry%3C/a%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/p%3E%3Cp%3EJohn+Barry+%28March+25%2C+1745+%E2%80%93+September+13%2C+1803%29+was+an+Irish-American+officer+in+the+Continental+Navy+during+the+American+Revolutionary+War+and+later+in+the+United+States+Navy.+He+has+been+credited+as+%22The+Father+of+the+American+Navy%22+%28and+shares+that+moniker+with+John+Paul+Jones%2C+and+John+Adams%29+and+was+appointed+a+captain+in+the+Continental+Navy+on+December+7%2C+1775.+He+was+the+first+captain+placed+in+command+of+a+U.S.+warship+commissioned+for+service+under+the+Continental+flag.%0A%0AAfter+the+war%2C+he+became+the+first+commissioned+U.S.+naval+officer%2C+at+the+rank+of+commodore%2C+receiving+his+commission+from+President+George+Washington+in+1797.+%0A%0A%0AThis+bronze+statue+of+John+Barry+%281745-1803%29+in+Independence+Square+was+sculpted+by+Samuel+Murray+%281869-1941%29%2C+the+artist+who+produced+the+statue+of+George+Washington+in+front+of+Independence+Hall.+The+statue+was+commissioned+by+the+Friendly+Sons+of+St.+Patrick+of+Philadelphia%2C+who+then+donated+the+statue+to+the+City.+The+piece+was+modeled+by+Murray%2C+probably+in+Philadelphia%2C+in+1906.+It+was+cast+by+the+Roman+Bronze+Works+of+Brooklyn%2C+NY.+The+pedestal+was+built+by+the+Harrison+Granite+Co.+of+Barre%2C+VT.+A+crowd+of+15%2C000+witnessed+the+unveiling+of+the+statue+on+March+16%2C+1907.+A+number+of+details+are+known+about+Samuel+Murray%27s+execution+of+the+sculpture+of+John+Barry.+Murray+generally+worked+from+life+or+used+photographs+or+earlier+portraits.+In+both+cases%2C+he+first+modeled+a+nude+figure+to+establish+the+anatomy+correctly.+Before+modeling+John+Barry%2C+Murray+studied+Gilbert+Stuart%27s+painting+of+Barry+and+had+a+friend+pose+in+Barry%27s+own+Revolutionary+War+uniform.+George+Washington+%28ca.+1910%3B+north+of+Independence+Hall%29%2C+Dr.+Joseph%C2%B7+Leidy+%281907%3B+Academy+of+Natural+Sciences%29%2C+and-Rev.+Corby+%281910%3B+Gettysburg+battlefield%29+are+other+sculptures+by+Murray.%0A%0AA+few+changes+were+made+to+the+piece+shortly+after+it+was+dedicated.+In+1912%2C+a+bronze+tablet+was+added+to+the+north+side+of+the+pedestal%2C+as+the+inscription+cut+in+the+stone+was+illegible+from+a+distance.+In+1913%2C+Samuel+Murray+repaired+a+finger+on+the+vandalized+statue.+In+1915%2C+a+change+in+the+grading+of+the+base+of+the+statue+was+approved+by+the+Art+Commission.%0A%0A%28wikipedia%2C+nps.gov%29%3C/p%3E){kind=link}
John Barry
John Barry (March 25, 1745 – September 13, 1803) was an Irish-American officer in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War and later in the United States Navy. He has been credited as "The Father of the American Navy" (and shares that moniker with John Paul Jones, and John Adams) and was appointed a captain in the Continental Navy on December 7, 1775. He was the first captain placed in command of a U.S. warship commissioned for service under the Continental flag.
After the war, he became the first commissioned U.S. naval officer, at the rank of commodore, receiving his commission from President George Washington in 1797.
This bronze statue of John Barry (1745-1803) in Independence Square was sculpted by Samuel Murray (1869-1941), the artist who produced the statue of George Washington in front of Independence Hall. The statue was commissioned by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Philadelphia, who then donated the statue to the City. The piece was modeled by Murray, probably in Philadelphia, in 1906. It was cast by the Roman Bronze Works of Brooklyn, NY. The pedestal was built by the Harrison Granite Co. of Barre, VT. A crowd of 15,000 witnessed the unveiling of the statue on March 16, 1907. A number of details are known about Samuel Murray's execution of the sculpture of John Barry. Murray generally worked from life or used photographs or earlier portraits. In both cases, he first modeled a nude figure to establish the anatomy correctly. Before modeling John Barry, Murray studied Gilbert Stuart's painting of Barry and had a friend pose in Barry's own Revolutionary War uniform. George Washington (ca. 1910; north of Independence Hall), Dr. Joseph· Leidy (1907; Academy of Natural Sciences), and-Rev. Corby (1910; Gettysburg battlefield) are other sculptures by Murray.
A few changes were made to the piece shortly after it was dedicated. In 1912, a bronze tablet was added to the north side of the pedestal, as the inscription cut in the stone was illegible from a distance. In 1913, Samuel Murray repaired a finger on the vandalized statue. In 1915, a change in the grading of the base of the statue was approved by the Art Commission.
(wikipedia, nps.gov)