James M. Prichett

James M. Prichett (1836–1871) was an officer of the United States Navy who served in the American Civil War.

Biography
Prichett, born in Centerville, Indiana, in 1836, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1857. Prior to the Civil War he served aboard the USS Mississippi (1841) on the China Station, and in USS Richmond (1860) on the Mediterranean Station.

Assigned to the Washington Navy Yard in 1861, Prichett joined the Naval forces on the Mississippi River in 1862. On 4 July 1863, while commanding the gunboat USS Tyler (1857), he participated in, and won praise for, effective action in repulsing a superior Confederate force during the battle of Helena, Arkansas. He also commanded monitor USS Mahopac (1863) during the war.

After the war he sailed with Admiral David Farragut's expedition to Russia and, in 1869, returned to the Pacific Squadron. Lieutenant Commander Prichett died in 1871 while attached to receiving ship USS Vermont (1848) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Namesake
In 1943, the destroyer USS Prichett (DD-561) was named in his honor.