Today we celebrate the beginning of the United States Navy with the story of Isle of Wight County own Revolutionary War hero, experienced maritime authority and member of the first six United States Congresses.

Josiah Parker of Macclesfield on Smith Neck, as our elected Representative to the third U.S. Congress in 1793, chaired the congressional committee that authorized our nations first fighting ships. For this he has been called The father of the U.S. Navy. One of these ships, USS Constitution Old Ironsides, survives today in Philadelphia Harbor as the worlds oldest commissioned naval warship.