Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 08.djvu/424

 PRAY

PREBLE

charitable organizations. He was married fir^t, Oct. 6, 1817, to Beda Dickerman ; secondly, Oct. 2, 1821. to Esther Dickerman; thirdly. Jan. 12, 1S2S. to Abigail P.. daughter of Wheeler Watson of South Kingston, R.I., and fourthly, March 16,

1835, to Mary E. Watson. His son, George Watson (born April 18, 18W. a graduate of the University of Erlaugen. Bavaria, Ph.D., colonel 20th regiment New York state militia, promoted brigadier-general) was killed at the buttle of Bull Run, July 21, 18G1. Zadock Pratt died at Bergen, N.J., April 6, 1871.

PRAY, Isaac Clark, actor and playwright, was born in Boston. Mass., May 15, 1813. He matri- culated at Harvard and was graduated at Am- herst, A.B., 1S33, A.M., 1836, meanwhile writing extensively for the press. He was editor in Boston of the Pearl, 1834-35, and of the Herald, 183.5-36. being also for a time associated with the New York Journal of Commerce, while manager of the National theatre. New York city,

1836. His tragedy " Guiletta Gordoni " was pro- duced there with Sarah Hildreth, whom he sub- sequently aided in her professional training, in the leading role. He also directed the stage training of Charlotte Cushman and other theatrical cele- brities. He dramatized the farce, "The Old Clock, or Here Slie Goes, There She Goes," based upon his original story published in the Sunday Morning Xeics, which journal, togetlier with the Dramatic Guardian and the Ladies' Companion, he edited. In 1846, wliile on a tour in England, he replaced William Betty in " Alexander the Great " at the Queen's theatre, London, and soon after was engaged to open the Theatre Royal in Liverpool, where he appeared successively as Othello. Hamlet, Romeo, Sir Giles Overreacli, Macbeth and Claude Melnotte. He was manager for several months of the Theatre Royal, and returned to the United States in May. 1847. He wrote the first and fifth acts of "The Corsican Bn.tliers" as played at the Astor Place opera house, and was manager of the Beach Street museum, Boston, 1849-50. He accepted an editorial position on the New York Herald, 18.50, acting also as musical and dramatic critic ; became stage manager for Laura Keene in 1854; conducted the Phil:i<leli)liia 7/i7»n;Tr, 1850-00, and ja'it previous to his death managed the Bateman companies of French artists. He is the author of: Prose and Verse (1835); Poems (1837); Book of the Drama (1851); Memoirs of Jaines Gordon Pen Jicff (1855); and the plays: Pactus Caccina (1847); The Hermit of Malta (18.56), and 77/«j Fe- viale Forty Tliieves. He died in New York city, Nov. 28, 1869.

PREBLE, Edward, naval officer, was born in Portland, Maine, Aug. 15, 1761 ; son of Gen. Jedediah and Mehitable (Bangs) Preble ; grand-

CcA^a/T^ .^e^L^e^

son of Benjamin and Mary (Baston) Preble and of Capt. Joshua Bangs, and great-grandson of Abraham Preble, who emigrated to old Plymouth colony from Kent, England, in 1636, and after marriage to Judith Tilden removed to York (then called Gorgiana or Agamenticus), Maine, where he was the first mayor of the city, one of the magis- trates and a judge of the court ; for several years commissioner for York count}-, then embracing the whole territory of Maine ; county treasurer, and took an active part in favor of the assump- tion of jurisdiction over Maine on the part of Massachu- setts, being appointed to the office of judge under the authority of Massachusetts. Edward Preble was sent to school, but to prevent his running away, his father, a zealous patriot, obtained for him a midshipman's warrant in the Massachusetts State Marine, sent out to prevent the depredations of British privateers on the coast of New England. He was promoted mid- shipman in 1779, and was on board the Protec- tor, Captain Williams, when that vessel caused the Admiral Duff to strike her colors. In his second cruise with the Protector, the ship was captured by a British frigate and the officers were carried to England and impressed at Ply- mouth, but young Preble was taken to New York, released and returned to his home. He reported the disaster to the Massachusetts provincial con- gress and was promoted first lieutenant, and when Lieut. George Little of the Protector escaped in 1781, and was given command of the Winthrop, Preble was made hia .second officer. He was entrusted with the daring exploit of boarding a British ship in the harbor at Castine, Maine, and with fourteen men captured the ship and carried her out of Penobscot harl)or in spite of the rigor- ous cannonade of the land batteries, returning with his prize to Boston harbor. Peace was de- clared in 1783, and Lieutenant Preble returned to the mercliant service. On the formation of the American navy in 1798, he was made lieuten- ant, April 9. 1798, was given command of the U.S. brig Pickering, January, 1799, and took part in protecting American merchantmen from French j)icaroons. He was commissioned cap- tain, May 15, 1799, and commanded the U.S. frigate Essex, 36 guns, on a cruise to the East Indies and China to protect American trade.