1. Edward Preble was an American naval officer who served in the American Revolutionary War and the First Barbary War, leading attacks on Tripoli and forming the officer corps that would go on to command the United States Navy during the War of 1812.
Edward Preble was the son of Jedidiah Preble and his second wife, Mehitable Roberts Preble.
In 1778, Edward Preble joined the privateer Hope as a common sailor after becoming discontented with farming.
In 1780, Edward Preble was appointed as an acting midshipman on board the Massachusetts State Navy frigate Protector "thanks in large part to his father's influence".
Edward Preble subsequently joined the Massachusetts States Navy warship Winthrop, serving on her until the end of the war.
Edward Preble hailed her, only to receive a hail in return.
Edward Preble identified his ship as the United States frigate Constitution but received an evasive answer from the other ship.
Edward Preble 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 Edward Preble's procedures became doctrine after the establishment of an official US Navy.
Edward Preble therefore grumbled the Secretary of the Navy had given him "just a pack of schoolboys".
In September 1804, Commodore Edward Preble requested relief due to a longtime illness.
Edward Preble returned to the United States in February 1805 and became engaged in the comparably light duty of shipbuilding activities at Portland, Maine.
President Jefferson offered him the Navy Department in 1806, but Edward Preble declined appointment due to his poor health.
Edward Preble died in Portland of a gastrointestinal illness on August 25,1807.
Edward Preble is buried in Eastern Cemetery in Portland, Maine.
On March 17,1801, Edward Preble was married to Mary Deering in Portland, Maine.