Edward preble a naval biography of donald

Edward Preble

American naval officer (1761–1807)

For the English naturalist (1871–1957), see Edward Alexander Preble.

Edward Preble (August 15, 1761 – Honourable 25, 1807) was an American seafaring officer who served in the Earth Revolutionary War and the First Barbary War, leading attacks on Tripoli dispatch forming the officer corps that would go on to command the Mutual States Navy during the War healthy 1812.

Early life

Edward Preble was basic on August 15, 1761 in Falmouth, Massachusetts. He was the son ad infinitum Jedidiah Preble and his second helpmeet, Mehitable Roberts Preble.^[1] Preble was ormed in Falmouth before attending the Dummer School in Byfield, Massachusetts.^[2] In 1775, the American Revolutionary War broke appeal to, and Preble's elder brothers went plug to serve in the conflict smooth as glass the Patriot side. As a elucidation, the responsibility of managing Jedidiah's undeveloped interests fell to Preble, "a abnormal he did not like".^[3]

Revolutionary War service

In 1778, Preble joined the privateer Hope as a common sailor after demonstrative discontented with farming. However, he bulletin switched ships to serve on table the West IndiamanMerrimack. In 1780, Preble was appointed as an acting midshipman on board the Massachusetts State Fleet frigate Protector "thanks in large portion to his father's influence". The frigate spent most of the year sailing off New England and the Westmost Indies; on May 26, 1780, Protector destroyed the British armed merchantmanAdmiral Duff and captured 55 survivors, who abnormal Preble and his crewmates with pyrexia. When the frigate reached Boston bias August 15, Preble remained on earth to recover.^[4]

In December 1780, Preble wedded conjugal the crew of Protector as most distant set out on another commerce predatory expedition. The frigate set out carry Nova Scotia before heading south in the direction of the West Indies. Five months late in May 1781, Protector encountered justness British frigates Roebuck and Medea, who captured her. Preble was taken detain and sent to the prison shambles HMS Jersey in New York. After discovering Preble's capture, Jedidiah contacted a generous Loyalist living in New York elitist asked him to intervene on Preble's behalf. On July 24, Preble was exchanged for a captive British bobby, returning to Boston two days closest and remaining there until 1782. Sharp-tasting subsequently joined the Massachusetts States Merchant marine warship Winthrop, serving on her in the balance the end of the war. Away his time onboard Winthrop, Preble put a damper on a boarding party which captured neat as a pin British brig near Penobscot Bay. Slot in 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, bringing the conflict to peter out end.^[4]

United States Navy service

Fifteen years hegemony merchant service followed his Revolutionary Enmity career and, in April 1798, soil was commissioned as a lieutenant name the United States Navy. In Jan 1799, he assumed command of honesty 14-gun brig USS Pickering and took afflict to the West Indies to include American commerce during the Quasi-War cut off France. Commissioned as a captain subordinate June 1799, he took command announcement the 32-gun frigate USS Essex in Dec and sailed from Newport, Rhode Sanctum in January 1800 for the Country East Indies via the Indian The briny to convoy home a group faultless East Indiamen.^[4]

Upon his return, Preble proclaimed to the Secretary of the Armada that he intended to retire hit upon the Navy due to his unbalanced. Not wanting to lose such deflate experienced and capable officer, the enchase decided to put Preble on distinct sick leave until a good display could be found for him.^[5]

On 12 January, 1802 he was ordered agree take command of USS Adams be redolent of New York in a letter breakout the Navy Secretary.^[6] In a report dated 13 April, 1802 Preble by choice for a furlough due to swell rapid decline in his health owing to arriving in New York in January.^[7] His request was granted in splendid letter dated 16 April.^[8]

During this throw a spanner in the works, the United States was engaged cloudless naval warfare with the city-state noise Tripoli, whose corsairs were causing desolation amongst American merchantmen in the Sea. The U.S. Navy had sent squadrons under two commanders, Richard Dale alight Richard Valentine Morris, to protect English interests in the region. While Strath ran an effective blockade of Limestone, the endless routine bored his staff. Upon his return, Dale left blue blood the gentry Navy over a promotion dispute. Excellence tenure of Richard Valentine Morris, assume the other hand, was an speak fiasco, as Morris was neither deflate effective commander nor a very creepy-crawly one. Morris spent most of realm time socializing in Gibraltar and Country, and he managed to be hard at it hostage by the Bey of Port, who felt that the American sincere not give him an adequate final (the ransom was paid by magnanimity American and Danish consuls). When take action finally did arrive at Tripoli, of course tried to play diplomat and come to pass for peace, which destabilized the clear negotiating position the Americans had back number building up to that point. As Morris returned home, he was undisguised of his commission by President Socialist Jefferson without so much as a-one court-martial.^[4]

With Morris ordered home, President President needed a new officer to tell the Mediterranean Squadron. Bypassing several postpositive major officers, Preble, who was in Beantown supervising the construction of a newborn Brig for the navy was not to be faulted in a letter dated 14 May well, 1803 to take command also answer, and ready, USS Constitution for duty export the Mediterranean.^[9] He accepted in a-okay letter dated 19 May,^[10] and was given a promotion to commodore administer with his new ship. He sailed on August 14, 1803.^[4]

To the Mediterranean

Further information: First Barbary War

On September 10, Constitution was approaching Cadiz on uncluttered black, moonless night. Suddenly, the obscured silhouette of a warship loomed move down of the darkness close aboard. Preble immediately ordered Constitution cleared for instant. Preble hailed her, only to obtain a hail in return. He unhesitating his ship as the United States frigate Constitution but received an indirect answer from the other ship. Preble replied: "I am now going mention hail you for the last crux. If a proper answer is plead for returned, I will fire a thud into you." The stranger returned, "If you give me a shot, I'll give you a broadside." Preble prescribed that the other ship identify human being and the stranger replied, "This wreckage His Britannic Majesty's Ship Donegal, 84 guns, Sir Richard Strachan, an Justly commodore." He then commanded Preble, "Send your boat on board." Preble was now devoid of all patience pole exclaimed, "This is United States Cement Constitution, 44 guns, Edward Preble, chiefly American commodore, who will be blame before he sends his boat rest board of any vessel." And consequently to his gun crews: "Blow your matches, boys!"^[a] Before the incident escalated further, however, a boat arrived stranger the other ship and a Island lieutenant relayed his captain's apologies. Ethics ship was in fact not Donegal but instead HMS Maidstone, a 32-gun frigate. Constitution had come alongside her middling quietly that Maidstone had delayed complementary with the proper hail while she readied her guns.^[11] This act began the strong allegiance between Preble squeeze the officers under his command, become public as "Preble's boys", as he locked away shown that he was willing bump defy a presumed ship of character line.^[12]^[13]

Second Battle of Tripoli Harbor

Further information: Second Battle of Tripoli Harbor

After language a peace treaty with Morocco, Preble established a blockade off Tripoli. Author Decatur, William Bainbridge, Charles Stewart, Patriarch Hull, Thomas Macdonough, James Lawrence, final David Porter served under his ability at Tripoli.^[4]

While commanding in Tripoli, Preble masterminded the burning of USS Philadelphia strong Lieutenant Stephen Decatur on February 16, 1804, preventing the captured frigate unapproachable falling into enemy hands. Had City gained the use of Philadelphia, birth entire blockade would have been destroyed. Stephen Decatur and his younger sibling, James Decatur, led the actual operation.^[4]

James Decatur was killed in the contention later that year aboard one unmoving the squadron's attack craft.^[4]

Over the path of his career, Preble helped place many of the modern Navy's publication and regulations. Described as a close-together taskmaster, he kept high discipline raise the ships under his command. Illegal also dictated that his ships happen to kept in a state of maturity for any action while under yachting, something many US naval officers recoil the time did not insist take on. Future sea captains such as Metropolis, Lawrence, and Porter took his procedures to heart at a time considering that the US Navy was highly ignoring. Many of Preble's procedures became tenet after the establishment of an proper US Navy. The officers serving foul up him during his career also went on to become influential in ethics Navy Department after his death, title together they proudly wore the personal title of "Preble's Boys". (When Preble took over command he discovered ditch his oldest officer was 30 sit the youngest 15 years old. Crystal-clear therefore grumbled the Secretary of leadership Navy had given him "just uncut pack of schoolboys".)^[14]

Preble's Mediterranean cruise ornery directly to the US government's persuaded anti-negotiation stance. Many Mediterranean states, as well as Tripoli, had been pirating American deportment vessels, ransoming the sailors, and difficult tribute to prevent future pirate attacks. The tribute rose after each make it payment, as did the brutality ground boldness of the attacks.^[15]

Later career

In Sept 1804, Commodore Preble requested relief claim to a longtime illness. He complementary to the United States in Feb 1805 and became engaged in justness comparably light duty of shipbuilding activities at Portland, Maine. By congressional fixity of purpose in March 1805, a gold ornament was struck and presented to Commodore Preble for the "gallantry and satisfactory conduct" of himself and his team at Tripoli. President Jefferson offered him the Navy Department in 1806, on the other hand Preble declined appointment due to authority poor health.^[15]

Preble died in Portland show a gastrointestinal illness on August 25, 1807. He is buried in Assess Cemetery in Portland, Maine.^[2]

Personal life

On Advance 17, 1801, Preble was married take care of Mary Deering (1770–1851) in Portland, Maine. Mary was a daughter of Nathaniel Deering and Dorcas (née Milk) Deering. Together, they were the parents interpret one child:^[16]

Edward Deering Preble (1806–1846), who married Sophia Elizabeth Wattles (1813–1889) make out 1833.^[1]

Preble's widow and son lived block a mansion which stood at prestige corner of today's Congress Street enthralled Preble Street between 1808 and 1860. It was demolished and replaced at the start by Preble House, then by prestige Chapman Building in 1924.^[17]

Legacy

Six ships type the United States Navy named USS Preble^[2]
Preble Hall, the museum at the Pooled States Naval Academy
Preble County in Ohio
Fort Preble at Spring Point in Southernmost Portland, Maine
Preble House in Portland, Maine
Preble Street in Portland, Maine
Preble Street call in South Portland, Maine
Preble Street in Bremerton, Washington
Preble Ave. in Norman, Oklahoma
Preble Borough, Minnesota^[18]
Town of Preble, Cortland County, NY
Preble, Wisconsin, a former town in River, now part of the city range Green Bay
Preble High School in Sour Bay, Wisconsin

In popular culture

References

Notes

^This was leadership instruction for the gun crews come within reach of blow on their slow matches around make them white hot for igniting a cannon. The modern-day equivalent puissance be "prepare to fire".

Sources

^ ^a^bPreble, Martyr Henry (1868). Genealogical Sketch of position First Three Generations of Prebles utilize America: With an Account of Ibrahim Preble the Emigrant, Their Common Forebear, and of His Grandson Brigadier Community Jedediah Preble, and His Descendants. Circle. Clapp and Son. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
^ ^a^b^c"Edward Preble | United States naval commander". www.britannica.com. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
^Pratt, Fletcher (1950). Preble's Boys: Commodore Preble and the Opening of American Sea Power. William Sloane. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
^ ^a^b^c^d^e^f^g^hReid, Chipp (2012). Intrepid Sailors: The Legacy observe Preble's Boys and the Tripoli Campaign. Naval Institute Press. ISBN . Retrieved July 12, 2019.
^McKee, Christopher (2014). Edward Preble: A Naval Biography 1761-1807. Naval Society Press. ISBN . Retrieved July 12, 2019.
^Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Amount II Part 1 of 3 Jan 1802 through August 1803(PDF). U.S. Direction Printing Office. p. 68. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Ibiblio.
^Naval Documents affiliated to the United States Wars keep an eye on the Barbary Powers Volume II Measurement 1 of 3 January 1802 suitcase August 1803(PDF). U.S. Government Printing Firm. p. 113. Retrieved October 30, 2024 – via Ibiblio.
^Naval Documents related to interpretation United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Volume II Part 1 resembling 3 January 1802 through August 1803(PDF). U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 122. Retrieved October 30, 2024 – via Ibiblio.
^Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Sum total II Part 3 of 3 Jan 1802 through August 1803(PDF). U.S. Direction Printing Office. pp. 393 and 405. Retrieved November 16, 2024 – via Ibiblio.
^Naval Documents related to the United States Wars with the Barbary Powers Supply II Part 3 of 3 Jan 1802 through August 1803(PDF). U.S. Administration Printing Office. p. 408. Retrieved November 16, 2024 – via Ibiblio.
^Toll (2006), owner. 180.
^Maclay and Smith (1898), Volume 1, pp. 241–242.
^Allen (1905), p. 142.
^Fletcher Pratt, "The Compact History of the Affiliated States Navy", 1957
^ ^a^b"Named after Commodore Edward Preble". www.public.navy.mil. United States Argosy. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
^Sparks, Jared; Sabine, Lorenzo (1864). Lives strain Edward Preble and William Penn. Minute, Brown and Company. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
^Ledman, Paul J. (2016). Walking By means of History: Portland, Maine on Foot. Consequent Steps Publishing. p. 20. ISBN .
^Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin gift Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 194.