Vice Admiral Joel Roberts Poinsett Pringle (February 4, 1873 – September 25, 1932) was a senior officer of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

, serving from 1894 to 1932.

Career

Pringle, born in

Georgetown, South Carolina Georgetown is the third oldest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina and the county seat of Georgetown County, South Carolina, Georgetown County, in the South Carolina Lowcountry, Lowcountry. As of the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census ...

, was appointed to the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (US Naval Academy, USNA, or Navy) is a federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as Secretary of the Navy. The Naval Academy ...

in 1888, and commissioned ensign in 1894. For his service during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, he was awarded the

Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a high award of a nation. Examples include: *Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) (established 1991), awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force for distinguished leadership in action * Distinguishe ...

for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility as commanding officer, ''Melville'' and Chief of Staff, Destroyer Flotillas, European Waters. Pringle graduated from the Naval War College in 1920 and served as a staff member from 1923–1925. Subsequently, he served as the college's president from 1927–1930. Attaining the rank of Vice Admiral in 1932, his commands included the

destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, manoeuvrable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against powerful short range attackers. They were originally developed in ...

; ; Flotilla 2, Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet; ; the battleship ; President of the Naval War College; Battleship Division 3, Battle Force; and Battleships, Battle Force.

Personal life

On January 25, 1899 he married Cordelia Phythian, daughter of Commodore Robert L. Phythian, USN. He died at

San Diego San Diego ( , ; ) is a city on the Pacific Ocean coast of Southern California located immediately adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a 2020 population of 1,386,932, it is the List of United States cities by population, eigh ...

, California, 25 September 1932.

Awards

* Spanish Campaign Medal * Victory Medal *Companion of the

Order of St. Michael and St. George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III. It is named in honour ...

(United Kingdom) *Officer of the

Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...

(France)

Legacy

* The was named for him. The ship was launched by his widow on May 2, 1942 and commissioned on September 15, 1942. * Pringle Hall at the Naval War College is named in his honor.

References

Joel R.P. Pringle bio
Naval War College.

External links