Comm. Edward Preble^[1]

1761 - 1807  (46 years)

• Name	Edward Preble
  Prefix	Comm.
  Born	15 Aug 1761	Falmouth, Cumberland, ME, USA
  Christened	Dummer Academy: Newbury, Essex, MA, USA
  Gender	Male
  Military Service	1779
  	Commadore U. S. Naval hero most known for war against Tripoli 1803-1804; also served during American Revolution
  Notable	was a celebrated US Navy hero for exploits in 1803 - 1804 and established many Navy doctrine stil in use
  _UID	C5BF86C576DD0543AA6D0494D426E4C8BF03
  Died	25 Aug 1807	Portland, Cumberland, ME, USA
  Buried	Munjoy Hill: Portland, Cumberland, ME, USA   [2]
  Person ID	I376	Irving Genealogy
  Last Modified	15 Nov 2010

  
  

  Father	Brg-Gen Jedidiah Preble,   b. 1707, York, York, ME, USA ,   d. 11 Mar 1784, Falmouth, Cumberland, ME, USA  (Age 77 years)
  Mother	Mehitable Bangs,   d. 1805
  Married	9 May 1754	Falmouth, Cumberland, ME, USA
  _STAT	MARRIED
  _UID	7D8719947EF2BE4AB2C87296019972843BC8
  Family ID	F212	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary Deering,   b. Portland, Cumberland, ME, USA ,   d. 26 May 1851, Portland, Cumberland, ME, USA
  Married	17 Mar 1801	Portland, Cumberland, ME, USA   [3]
  _STAT	MARRIED
  _UID	FD0BBA9642234E45AED5C2B19B0FC19C4D4C
  Children	+ 1. Edward Deering Preble,   b. 22 Feb 1806, Portland, Cumberland, ME, USA ,   d. 12 Feb 1846, Portland, Cumberland, ME, USA  (Age 39 years)
  Last Modified	27 Mar 2016
  Family ID	F216	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map		Born - 15 Aug 1761 - Falmouth, Cumberland, ME, USA Christened - - Dummer Academy: Newbury, Essex, MA, USA Married - 17 Mar 1801 - Portland, Cumberland, ME, USA Died - 25 Aug 1807 - Portland, Cumberland, ME, USA Buried - - Munjoy Hill: Portland, Cumberland, ME, USA  = Link to Google Earth
  Pin Legend	: Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  
  

• Photos

  Capt. Edward Preble 1805 Portrait by Rembrandt Peale, probably in Philadelphia (or New York) during Edward's return trip to Maine

  
  

  Histories

  Edward Preble, Capt. U.S. Navy 14 May 1803 he was directed to take command of the Frigate Constitution at Boston and take lead of the 3rd squadron to "deal with" the Barbary pirates.

  
  

• Notes

  Because of his naval career much has been written on Edward Prebble. See "First Three Generations of Prebles in America"; page 162. Preble was born at Falmouth, Eastern Massachusetts, now Portland, Maine, 15 August 1761, the son of Gen. Jedidiah Preble. As a boy, his home was destroyed in the burning of Falmouth by British Naval Commander Henry Mowatt. It is said that this action compelled Preble to join the Navy. In 1779 he was appointed to the Massachusetts State Navy, becoming an officer in the 26 gun ship Protector. Becoming a British prisoner, when that ship was captured in 1781, he was held for a time in the prison ship New Jersey. 14 May 1803 he was directed to take command of the Frigate Constitution at Boston and take lead of the 3rd squardron to "deal with" the Barbary pirates. Over the course of his career, Preble helped establish many of the modern Navy's rules and regulations. Described as a stern taskmaster, he kept high discipline upon the ships under his command. He also dictated that his ships be kept in a state of readiness for any action while under sail, something many US naval officers at the time did not insist upon. Many of Preble’s procedures became doctrine after the establishment of an official US Navy. The officers serving under him during his career also went on to become most influential in the Navy Department after his death, and together they proudly wore the unofficial title of "Preble's Boys". (When Preble took over command he discovered that his oldest officer was 20 and the youngest 15 years old. He therefore grumbled the Secretary of the Navy had given him "just a pack of schoolboys".) Preble's Mediterranean cruise led directly to the US government's firm anti-negotiation stance. Many Mediterranean states, including Tripoli, had been pirating American shipping vessels, ransoming the sailors, and demanding tribute to prevent future pirate attacks. The tribute rose after each successful payment, as did the brutality and boldness of the attacks. He received a Congressional Medal 17 May 1806 for his accomplishments against Tripoli. He was offered the position of Secretary of the Navy 1806 by President Jefferson, but declined due to health issues.

  
  

• Sources

  [S219] The First Three Generations of Prebles in America, Geo. Henry Preble, Pgs. 162-183 (Reliability: 2). Commodor Edward Preble USN [S219] The First Three Generations of Prebles in America, Geo. Henry Preble, Pg 180 (Reliability: 2). His remains were moved to Munjoy Hill, Portland after 40 years from a vault of his wife's ancestors, the Deerings. [S219] The First Three Generations of Prebles in America, Geo. Henry Preble, Page 162 (Reliability: 2). Married by Rev. Samuel Deane, D.D.