The subject of this memoir was born in the ancient town of Falmouth,
now Portland, Maine, August 15th, 1761. He was the son of the Hon.
Jedediah Preble, a member of the council and senate, who died in 1783,
at the advanced age of seventy-seven.
Edward Preble exhibited from early childhood a firm and resolute
temper, and a love for adventurous and chivalrous feats. While quite
young he showed a predilection for a seafaring life, and although his
father was much opposed to his choice, he thought it unwise to thwart
him; and therefore placed him on board a ship bound for Europe, in
which he made his first voyage. In 1779 Preble became midshipman, in
the state ship Protector, of twenty-six guns, under the command of
Captain Williams.
The Protector, on her first cruise, had a sharp engagement with a
British frigate of thirty-six guns, on the coast of Newfoundland, and
so disabled her that she was obliged to strike. She blew up in a few
minutes afterwards.
The second cruise of the Protector was less fortunate; she was
captured by a British frigate and sloop-of-war. The principal officers
were taken to England, but young Preble, by the influence of his
father, obtained his release. Captain Little, who was second in command
in the Protector, and one of the prisoners taken to England, scaled the
walls of his prison at Plymouth, and escaping with one other person,
rowed in a wherry across the British Channel, and landed on the coast
of France; thence took passage for Boston; and took the command of the
sloop of war Winthrop, with Preble as his first lieutenant.
Captain Little had previously captured the tender of a brig, of
superior force to his own, lying in the Penobscot river, in Maine. From
the crew he gained sufficient information to determine him to take
her by surprise. Accordingly he ran along side in the night, having
dressed forty of his men in white frocks, to distinguish them from the
enemy. He was hailed by the brig, supposing him to be the tender, with
“You will run us aboard!” “Ay!” shouted Preble, “I am coming aboard!”
and he immediately jumped into the vessel with fourteen of his men.
The rapidity of the vessel was such, that it prevented the remainder
from following them. Little cried out to his lieutenant to know if
he would not have more men; “No!” he answered with great coolness,
(expecting to be overheard by the enemy,) “we have more than we want
already; we stand in each other’s way.” Those of the English crew on
deck immediately leaped overboard, while others did so from the cabin
windows, swimming for the shore, within pistol-shot. Preble then
proceeded to the cabin, where he found the officers either in bed or
just rising. He informed them they were his prisoners, that the brig
was in his possession, and any resistance would be fatal. Supposing
themselves captured by a superior force, they submitted, without any
effort to rescue the vessel. The captors conveyed their prize to
Boston. Our hero was only in his twentieth year, when this daring act
took place, which gave striking indications of the intrepidity and
courage which afterwards so greatly distinguished him.
Lieutenant Preble remained in the Winthrop the whole of the war. That
vessel is acknowledged to have rendered much service to our trade, by
destroying privateers infesting our eastern waters.
In 1798, and the ensuing year, government had decided on building
fifteen frigates and twelve other vessels of war. Preble was the first
lieutenant appointed, and in the winter of 1798 and 1799, he made
two cruises as commander of the brig Pickering. The next year, with
a captain’s commission, he commanded the frigate Essex of thirty-six
guns. In January, 1800, he was ordered to Batavia, in company with
the frigate Congress, as a convoy to our homeward bound ships. The
Congress was dismasted and obliged to return, while Preble took under
his own convoy fourteen sail of merchantmen, valued at several millions
of dollars. Soon afterwards he was appointed commander of the Adams,
for the Mediterranean; but his health declining, he was compelled to
withdraw from the profession until 1803. His government then made him
commodore of the squadron fitted out against the Algerine pirates on
the coast of Barbary. The brilliant career of this gallant officer,
in negotiating with so much ability, not only redound to his own
credit, but exalted the character of the American navy in the eyes
of all the world. His fleet consisted of the Constitution, of which
he was commander, also the frigate Philadelphia, and several smaller
vessels. The memorable bombardment of Tripoli is familiar to all
readers of history, having been so often recorded by able historians.
Congress voted the thanks of the nation, and an elegant gold medal,
(_See_ Plate IX.,) which were both presented by the President, with
the most emphatic expressions of esteem. On his leaving the squadron,
the officers presented a most affectionate and interesting address,
expressive of their devotion and attachment to him as their commander,
and of his worth as a citizen and Christian. In the latter part of the
year of 1806, Commodore Preble suffered severely from a debility of the
digestive organs. Indulging a hope of recovery, he bore his sufferings
with that fortitude which had marked his character through life, until
the 25th of August, 1807, when he breathed his last.