Edward Preble
Edward Preble was a United States naval officer who served with great distinction during the 1st Barbary War, leading American attacks on the city of Tripoli and forming the officer corps that would later lead the U.S. Navy in the War of 1812.
Preble was born at Falmouth, Eastern Massachusetts, now Portland, Maine,August 1761, the son of General Jedidiah Preble. As a boy, his home was destroyed in the burning of Falmouth by British Naval Commander Henry Mowatt. It is said that this action compelled Preble to join the Navy. It also contributed to his terrible temper later in life. In 1779 he was appointed to the Massachusetts State Navy, becoming an officer in thegun ship Protector. Becoming a British prisoner when that ship was captured in 1781, he was held for a time in the infamous prison ship HMS160Jersey. On his release, he served in the Massachusetts Navy sloop Winthrop and led a boarding party to cut out a British brig at Castine, Maine. At the opening of this action, Winthrop passed by the enemy ship so quickly that only Preble andof his 45man boarding party managed to get aboard. As Winthrop came back around to make another pass, Winthrops captain, George Little, asked Preble if he wanted more men. Preble
Source: Wikipedia