Edward Preble - Things named in his honor, Books

US naval officer, born in Falmouth (now Portland), Maine, USA. He commanded the Tripoli squadron against the Barbary pirates (1803–4) and authorized the burning of the captured USS Philadelphia. He had virtually defeated the Tripolitans when he was replaced in 1804. He had created the first working tactical naval squadron, and was a hero to many young officers who later distinguished themselves in the War of 1812.

Edward Preble (15 August 1761 - 25 August 1807) was a U.S. naval officer.

Preble was born at Falmouth, Eastern Massachusetts, now Portland, Maine, 15 August 1761.

Fifteen years of merchant service followed his Revolutionary War service and, in April 1798, he was appointed 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy.

Given command of the 3rd Squadron, with Constitution as his flagship, in 1803, he sailed for the Barbary coast and by October had promoted a treaty with Morocco and established a blockade off Tripoli in the First Barbary War. Stephen Decatur, William Bainbridge, Charles Stewart, Isaac Hull, and David Porter served under his command at Tripoli.

While commanding in Tripoli, Preble masterminded the burning of the USS Philadelphia, preventing the impressive warship from falling into enemy hands.

James Decatur was killed in the fighting later that year aboard one of the squadron's attack craft. The story has it that upon hearing of his brother's death, Stephen Decatur swung at Edward Preble on the deck of the USS Constitution. The fanciful tale continues that afterwards the two officers retired to Preble's cabin and drank many toasts to the men killed in action in the Mediterranean, including Stephen Decatur's brother. No disciplinary action was taken for hitting a superior officer, perhaps evidence of the relaxed regulations in the US Navy at the time or perhaps evidence of Preble's understanding of Decatur's grief.

Over the course of his career, he helped establish many of the modern Navy's rules and regulations. Stennis is known as the “Father of the modern United States Navy", 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.

Preble's Mediterranean cruise led directly to the US governments 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. With a successful campaign against the Barbary coast proving America’s might, the US government was able to essentially say, “We do not negotiate with terrorists.”

In September 1804, Commodore Preble requested relief due to a long time illness. He returned to the United States in February 1805 and became engaged in the "light duty" of shipbuilding activities at Portland, Maine, where he died of a gastrointestinal illness on 25 August 1807.

Things named in his honor

Several USS Preble Preble Hall at the United States Naval Academy Preble County in Ohio Fort Preble in Maine Preble Street in Maine Town of Preble, Cortland County, NY Preble High School in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Books

London, Joshua E. Victory in Tripoli: How America's How America's War with the Barbary Pirates Established the U.S. Navy and Shaped a Nation. Preble's Boys: Commodore Preble and the Birth of American Sea Power.