Ralph Erksine Peasley

Captain Ralph Erksine Peasley "Captain Matt" (May 30, 1866 – December 13, 1948) was a sea captain from the Pacific Northwest who became famous due to a popular series of short stories by Peter Bernard Kyne called Cappy Ricks or the Subjugation of Matt Peasley.

Family life
Peasley was born to Henry Clay Peasley a civil war veteran and Elizabeth Rose of Jonesport, Maine in 1866. He left home at age 14 to learn seamanship. At age 22, he captained his first ship. He came to Seattle, Washington about 1888.

In 1903, he married Emily Burrows "Burrie" Dalton, daughter of Captain James Dalton.

Peasley died in 1948.

Career highlights

 * While captain of the Louis he brought it into the Yangtze River after a typhoon, even though he had never been there. He brought it safely to port and set a passage record.
 * In 1903, Peasley and Captain Smith saved a sailor from drowning.

Ships

 * Louis (schooner)
 * Wawona (schooner)
 * Mary E Foster
 * Melancton
 * Kennewick (steamer)
 * Omega
 * Fred G Wood (schooner)
 * Vigilant 1919-1930 (schooner)
 * Linda 1931 (auxiliary sloop)