Material: Bronze, Granite Base
The Commodore John Barry statue in Independence Square honors Commodore John Barry (1745–1803), the Irish‑born naval officer widely celebrated as the “Father of the American Navy.”
Installed in 1907 and presented to the city by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, the bronze monument depicts Barry in a tri‑cornered hat, standing tall and pointing outward—an emblem of command and forward momentum.
Barry emigrated from County Wexford, Ireland, to Philadelphia and became one of the Continental Navy’s most skilled and enduring commanders. He oversaw the first capture of a British ship by the Continental Navy in 1776, served throughout the Revolutionary War, and later helped shape the early U.S. Navy. His long service and commitment to building a permanent naval force earned him the title bestowed by his contemporaries.
Set in the landscaped grounds of Independence Square—just steps from Independence Hall—the statue anchors a key Revolutionary‑era space and commemorates one of Philadelphia’s most important military figures.
