Ok, I grant you this title does sound like it's describing Grumpyoldman, :-) , but read on.

If you ask most anybody who the "Father of the American Navy" was I'd bet most people would say John Paul Jones. I know I probably would. I just finished reading this article about a contemporary of Jones who his own contermpoaries as the real "father."

The only reason I can think that Commodore Barry didn't get the fame of John Paul Jones is that he didn't have a catchy phrase, "I have not yet begun to fight!"

Commodore Barry

Very interesting.....
But they did name a bridge after him.

Who was Thomas Mahan then? Or maybe it was modern American Navy.

Very interesting article, Rodger, and equally good hypothesis about Jones...quite possibly you could be on to something, mate! The media is what makes fame, and without a famous line, Cmmdr. Barry may have been kept in the dark, if you would...very interesting, indeed!

~Gunny

Mahan, his name was actually Alfred Thayler Mahan, was late 19th, possibly early 20th century. I don't think he ever commanded a fleet or anything. Is main claim to fame was his book Influence of Seapower upon History. I believe one of the theories put forth was that of the "fleet in being."

Alfred Thayler Mahan

Thanks, I knew Mahan had something important to do with Naval concepts or ideas. I think this is one of the things that influenced Jackie Fisher.

Even if the popular press has 'ignored' Barry, the US Navy has not. At least 3 destroyers have borne his name, dating back to the earliest destroyers in the 1900's.

What's ironic about Mahan is that the Imperial Japanese Navy swore by his doctrine of the mighty knock out stroke. Hence, the battle plans at Midway and Leyte Gulf.

My vote for the "Father of the modern Navy" would have to be James Forrestal-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Forrestal