squadron to operate against the Barbary states, with the "Philadelphia," Capt. Bainbridge; the "Argus," under Lieut. Hull; the "Siren," Lieut. Stewart; the "Enterprise," Lieut. Decatur : the " Nautilus," Lieut. Somers ; and the " Vixen," Lieut. Smith. On 6 Oct., 1803, the fleet arrived off Tan- giers, where, by display of force and firm demands, In' compelled the sultan of Morocco to renew the treaty of 1786. The "Philadelphia" was sent to blockade Tripoli, and, while chasing Tripolitan gun- boats, ran on a reef and was captured, after the guns had been thrown overboard in vain efforts to float the ship. Subsequently the Tripolitans removed her to the inner harbor Preble arrived off Tripoli. 17 I ice., 1803, reconnoitred the harbor, received letters from Bainbridge in prison, and matured a plan for the destruction of the " Philadelphia " that had been suggested by Bainbridge. He sailed to Syracuse, where he detailed Decatur with volun- teers in the captured Tripolitan ketch re-named " Intrepid," to destroy the " Philadelphia." Deca- tur (g, r.) accomplished the feat and rejoined Preble at Syracuse, 19 Feb., 1804. Preblc cruised along the Barbary coast, blockaded Tripoli, and collected a force of small vessels, until 25 July, 1804, when he arrived off Tripoli with a frigate, three brigs, three schooners, two bomb-vessels, and six gun- boats. The town was defended by forts with 45,- 000 Arabs, besides two schooners, a brig, and nine- teen gun-boats. Preble conducted six spirited attacks, in which three Tripolitan vessels were cap- tured and three were sunk. The pacha sued for peace, offering to waive all claim for future tribute, and reduce the ransom of American prisoners from $1,000 to |300 each. Preble insisted on equal ex- change, and continued operations. The relief squadron arrived on 10 Sept., 1S04. under Com. Barron, Preble's senior, and the latter, being re- lieved, sailed home after settling negotiations with Italian authorities for the vessels and supplies that had been furnished. Preble's strict discipline, pru- dent and energetic measures, and perseverance are demonstrated by the details of this series of the most gallant attacks that are recorded in naval history. No gun was fired against Tripoli after he left. His operations resulted in the peace signed 3 June, 1805, by which the tribute that European nations had paid for centuries, and the slavery of Christian captives, were abolished. His officers wrote a letter expressing t heir esteem and affection, he was given an enthusiastic welcome on his return, and congress gave him a vote of thanks and an emblematical gold medal. lie was the first officer to receive a vote of thanks after the adoption of the constitution. In 1800 Jefferson offered him a seat in the cabinet as the head of the navy depart- ment, but feeble health prevented his acceptance : he returned to Portland, where he died of consump- tion. Edward's nephew, George Henry, naval officer, b. in Portland, Me.. 25 Feb., 1810; d. in Boston, Mass., 1 March, 1885, entered the navy as midshipman, 10 Oct., 1835. cruised in the Mediter- ranean in the frigate "United States" in 1836-'8, became passed midshipman 22 June, 1841, served in the Florida war in 1841-'2. and circumnavigated the world in the " St. Louis " in 1843-'5, when he took ashore the first American force that landed in China. In the Mexican war, in 1846-'7, he par- ticipated in the capture of Alvarado, Vera Cruz, and Tuxpan. He became a master. 15 July, 1847, and lieutenant, 5 Feb.. 1848, served in the frigate " St. Lawrence " in 1853-'C. took goods to the Lon- don exhibition, joined Corn. Matthew C. Perry's expedition to China, and fought Chinese pirates, for which theEnglish authorities gave him their thanks. VOL. v. 8 He surveyed the harbors of Keelung. Formosa, Jediln. anil llakodadi, Japan, and prepared sailing direct inns I'or Singapore, which were published ex- tensively. In 185(i-'7 he was light-house inspector, in 1857-'9 he served at the navy-yard at Charles- town, Mass., and in 1859-'61 he was executive of i he steamer " Narragansett " in the Pacific. In January, 1862, he took command of the steamer " Katahdin," in which he participated under Farra- gut in the capture of New Orleans, and subsequent operations in the Mississippi and Grand gulf. He was commissioned commander. 16 July, 1862. For failure to capture the Confederate cruiser " Florida" on the blockade he was summarily dismissed the navy, but the captain of the " Florida " testified that his superior speed alone saved him, and the dismissal was revoked, he was restored to his rank, and given command of the " St. Louis," which he joined at Lisbon, cruising after Confederate rovers. The " Florida" again escaped him at Madeira while he was becalmed. He next commanded the fleet brigade from 24 Nov., 1864, till April, 1805, and co-operated with Gen. William T. Sherman. With the steamer " State of Georgia," in 1865, he rescued six hundred passengers from the wrecked steamer " Golden Rule," near Aspinwall. He became cap- tain on 16 March, 1867, was at the Boston navy- yard in 1865-'8, and served as chief of staff and in command of the flag-ship " Pensacola" in 1868-'70 in the Pacific. After being commissioned commo- dore, 2 Nov., 1871. he was commandant of the navy- yard at Philadelphia in 1873-'5, was promoted to rear-admiral, 30 Sept., 1876, and on 25 Feb., 1878, was retired by law, being sixty-two years old. Ad- miral Preble constantly contributed to the profes- sional periodical press, and was a member of vari- ous historical societies. A collection of navy registers, naval tracts, and other works from his library constitute the rarest sets of U. S. naval publications in existence. They are now in the navy department, serving in many cases to supply information for the biographies of naval officers that is not otherwise obtainable. His writings, many of which were printed privately and in small editions, include " Chase of the Rebel Steamer of War Oreto'" (Cambridge, 1862): "The Preble Family in America" (Boston. 1868); "First Cruise of the U. S. Frigate ' Essex ' " (Salem, 1870) ; " His- tory of the American Flag " (Albany, 1872); and " History of Steam Navigation " (Philadelphia, 1883). Jedidiah's granddaughter, Harriet, trans- lator, b. in Lewes, England, in 1795 ; d. in West Manchester, near Pittsburg, Pa., 4 Feb., 1854, was the daughter of Henry Preble, who became a mer- chant in Paris, France. She was educated at the school of Madame Cam pan in St.Germain-en-Laye, came to the United States with her mother in 1830, and in 1832 established a school in Pittsburg, which feeble health compelled her to abandon in 1836. She published translations into French prose of Bulwer's poem "The Rebel," with an historical in- troduction (Paris, 1827), and of James Fenimore Cooper's " Notions of the Americans " (4 vols., 1828), and left several works in manuscript. See "Me- moir of Harriet Preble, containing Portions of her Correspondence, Journal, and other Writings," by Prof. Richard H. Lee (New York, 1850).
PREBLE, William Pitt, jurist, b. in York,
Me., 27 Nov., 1783 ; d. in Portland. Me., 11 Oct.,
1857. He was graduated at Harvard in 1SOO, and
was tutor in mathematics there in 1809-'!!. In
1813 he was appointed U. S. district attorney, and
became a leader of the Democratic party. In 1818
he removed to Portland, which he represented in
the State constitutional convention of 1819, and
