Percival

 

John Percival, who was born in Barnstable, Mass. 3 April 1779, served in the Quasi War as a master’s mate and midshipman, and then entered the merchant service. He was impressed by the Portuguese and was sent to HMS Victory. When put in command of a Spanish prize, Percival took her to Madeira where he escaped to USS Washington. In 1809 he was assigned to Siren, part of the New York flotilla under Capt. Jacob Lewis. He served in the gunboat Yankee in 1812 when it captured HMS Eagle, tender of 74-gun HMS Poictiers. Percival joined Peacock 9 March 1814 and made three cruises capturing fourteen merchantmen and two warships, HMS Epervier and Nautilus. For his gallantry in the capture of HMS Epervier, he was promoted to Lieutenant and given the thanks of Congress. He died with the rank of Captain 7 September 1862 in Dorchester, Mass.

 

II

 

(DD–452: dp. 2,100; l. 376’5”; b. 39’7”; dr. 13’; s. 37 k.; cpl. 300; a. 5 5”, 10 40mm., 7 20mm., 10 21” tt., 6 dcp.; cl. Fletcher)

 

The second Percival (DD–452) was planned as an experimental destroyer with specifications very similar to those of the Fletcher-class ships, except that she was to have ultra-high pressure boilers. However, the Navy’s contract of 1 July 1940 with Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Co., Kearny, N.J., for construction of Percival was cancelled 7 January 1946.