HMS Newark (G08)

Cadwallader Ringgold was born in Washington County, Md., 20 August 1802, and entered the U.S. Navy in 1819. He commanded the schooner Weazel in action against West Indies pirates during the late 1820s and later served on board Vandalia in the Pacific and Adams in the Mediterranean. During 1838-42, he participated in the Wilkes Expedition in the Pacific, commanding Porpoise from 1840. Inactive in the later 1850s, he returned to the fleet during the Civil War. While in command of the frigate Sabine he effected the rescue of a battalion of Marines whose transport steamer had gone inshore and also of the ship of the line Vermont which had lost her rudder in a storm. Promoted to commodore in 1862, he was placed on the rear admiral (retired) list in 1866. Rear Admiral Ringgold died at New York on 29 April 1867.

The first Ringgold (Destroyer No. 89) was laid down on 20 October 1917 at San Francisco, Calif., by Union Iron Works; launched on 14 April 1918; sponsored by Mrs. David W. [Grace T.] Farquhar, mother of Lt. Francis P. Farquhar, USNRF, who was serving a tour of duty at the shipbuilders'; and commissioned on 14 November 1918 at Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, Calif., Cmdr. Louis P. Davis in command.

Ringgold departed Mare Island on 18 November 1918 to join the Destroyer Force, Atlantic Fleet. After transiting the Panama Canal, Ringgold called at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before arriving at Hampton Roads, Va., on 5 December 1918. She cruised along the U.S. east coast into 1922, operating generally out of Newport, R.I., Ringgold put into Philadelphia Navy Yard on 5 April 1922 where she was decommissioned on 17 June 1922 and placed in reserve.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Ringgold I (Destroyer No. 89)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.