Democratic standard. [volume] (Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio) 1837-1850, 1840-08-06
NAVAL BIOGRAPHY.
CoMproDoRE PREBLE.

Commodore Preble was born in Portland,
in August, I76l, His father, Jedediah
Preble, moved there from York about r.
so, and married in 1854 70. his second
wife daughter Of Joshua Bangs, who
came from Cape Cod, and from whom the
Island at the mouth Of Portland harbor is
named.
AS early as 1870, Commodore Preble
entered the little navy Of the Revolution
as lnidshipman in the Protector, a state
ship Of % guns. On his FIRST cruise, his
ship captured British letter Of Marque
of SO guns; but on her second, she was
herself captured by frigate and sloop-
of war BY the friendship of Col. Tying,
a refugee and friend Of bis father; hewas
released, and soon after entered the slooP
-of-war Winthrop, as first Lieutenant.
While in this ship he was stationed in the
Penobscot, where he distinguished him
self by capturing an armed brig Of suprei-
or force to the Winthrop, with tender
and Al men.
After the peace Of SO, there being no
employment for him in the seryice,h per-
fomed various voyages as ship master to
different parts Of the globe.
But in 1893, on the establishment ofa
Navy by the United States, he was one Of
the FIVE lieutenants first appointed, and
was entrusted with the command of the
Pickering. The next year he received a
Captains commission, and was promoted
to the command Of the Essex Of 36 guns.
ln this ship he rendered valuable service
To our commerce in the Indian and At
lantic Oceans; and in 1900 he conveyed
home from the East Indies, II American
marchantmen, valued at several millions
Of dollars. On this voyage he gave chase
to French corvette which hewould have
oyerlakeD, had not the wind died away
which permitted her TO escape by means
other sweeps. On his return he was ap-
pointed to the Adams for the Meditetra-
mean, but was obliged to decline this COM
mand from i'll health.
In May, 1903, having sufficiently lecov-
cred his health, he was appointed to COM
mand Of the squadron destined 10 the Med
EEisersaneap, consisting Of seven sail, 10 pro-
tectthe commerce and seamen ofthe Uni
led States, then continually exposed to
the 'Tripolitian freebooters, He proceed
ed to his destination in the Constitution
frigate, then as now, the Gvorile ship Of
our navy. By his firm and vigorous CON
duct, for more than half . year, during
which he had charge Of his squadron, he
secured peace with Morocco, and inspir-
ed such terror in the other Barbary pow
ers of the American arms, as elevated
her name and effectually protected her
commerce from the depradations Of these
marauders. President Jefferson, in bis
message of December, 1908, mentions
s'the promptitude and energy of Commo-
dore Prebla and the condpct Of our Off
GERS generally, as msriting entire appro-
batiOnr
II was during this service, that our ma
wv performed those brilliant feats which
approach 10 tho romantic age Of chivalry,
and which spread its renown through The
civilized world. Among these was the
destruction Of the Philadelphiasfsigate by
a party of volunteers under command Of
Stephen Decatur. This ship had unEortu-
nately grounded and fallen into the hands
of the Tripolitians. The fr;gale Iay ln5
the harbor Of TrpOli, within half gun shot
of the Castle and the principal battery,