Percival I (Destroyer No. 298)
(DD-298: dp. 1,215; l. 314' 4"; b. 30'11"; dr. 9'4"; s. 30 k.; cpl. 128; a. 4 4", 1 3" aa, 12 21" tt.; cl. Clemson)
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.
I
Percival (Destroyer No. 298) was launched 5 December 1918 by the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., San Francisco, Calif.; sponsored by Miss Eleanor Wartsbaugh; and commissioned 1 March 1920, Comdr. It. A. Spruance, who led the 5th Fleet in World War II, in command.
With trials off the California coast completed, Percival reported for duty with Squadron 4 Flotilla 5 of the Cruiser Destroyer Force Pacific based at San Diego. On 12 September 1923 she became flagship of Squadron 11 and made annual deployments with the Pacific Battle Fleet in fleet problems.
Percival was decommissioned 26 April 1930 and scrapped in 1931.
