Barney, Joshua (1759-1818)

American naval officer. He fought in the American Revolution and the War of 1812. In 1796 he was promoted to commodore.

Barney was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He entered the navy, and at the age of 17 was made lieutenant. When on active service aboard the Saratoga, his ship was captured by the British Intrepid, and Barney was taken as a prisoner to England. He escaped from prison 1781 and returned to America, where as commander of a small warship he captured a British ship off Delaware. He declined a command when war broke out again 1812, but two years later he commanded a force assembled to defend Bladensburg, Maryland, from a British attack.