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 naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

, 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 ...

, the son of Dominick Lynch Pringle and Caroline Lowndes Pringle. He was appointed to the

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

in 1888, where he graduated in 1892. He was commissioned an

ensign Ensign most often refers to: * Ensign (flag), a flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality * Ensign (rank), a navy (and former army) officer rank Ensign or The Ensign may also refer to: Places * Ensign, Alberta, Alberta, Canada * Ensign, Ka ...

in 1894. For his service during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, he was awarded the

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

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 The Naval War College (NWC or NAVWARCOL) is the staff college and "Home of Thought" for the United States Navy at Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island. The NWC educates and develops leaders, supports defining the future Navy and associa ...

in 1920 and served as a staff member from 1923 to 1925. Subsequently, he served as the college's president from 1927 to 1930. Attaining the rank of

Vice Admiral Vice admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, usually equivalent to lieutenant general and air marshal. A vice admiral is typically senior to a rear admiral and junior to an admiral. Australia In the Royal Australian Navy, the rank of Vice ...

in 1932, his commands included the

destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast, maneuverable, long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy, or carrier battle group and defend them against a wide range of general threats. They were conceived i ...

; ; Flotilla 2, Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet; ; the battleship ;

President of the Naval War College The president of the Naval War College is a flag officer in the United States Navy. The President's House in Newport, Rhode Island is their official residence. The functions of the president of the Naval War College actually predate the estab ...

; 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. The couple had one child, a daughter, also named Cordelia. The daughter married an American naval officer, Captain John D. H. Kane. Their son, Admiral Pringle's grandson, was Rear Admiral John D. H. Kane Jr.'' Marquis Who Was Who in America," vol. 1 He died at

San Diego San Diego ( , ) is a city on the Pacific coast of Southern California, adjacent to the Mexico–United States border. With a population of over 1.4 million, it is the List of United States cities by population, eighth-most populous city in t ...

, California, 25 September 1932.

Awards

Spanish Campaign Medal The Spanish Campaign Medal was a military award of the United States Armed Forces which recognized those men of the U.S. military who had served in the Spanish–American War. Although a single decoration, there were two versions of the Spanish ...

* 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, Prince of Wales (the future King George IV), while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George I ...

(United Kingdom) *Officer of the

Legion of Honor The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...

(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

is named in his honor.

References

Joel R.P. Pringle bio
, Naval War College.

External links

USS Pringle DD-477ClanPringle.org.uk
1873 births 1932 deaths People from Georgetown, South Carolina United States Navy admirals United States Naval Academy alumni United States Navy personnel of World War I Presidents of the Naval War College Naval War College alumni Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal {{US-navy-bio-stub