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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Private · U.S. Marine Corps

Edward Sullivan

Private Edward Sullivan, Marine Corps, received the Medal of Honor for actions on May 11, 1898 in Cienfuegos, Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War May 11, 1898Born in Ireland

Serving as a Marine in the U.S. Marine Corps, Private Edward Sullivan received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 11, 1898 in Cienfuegos, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Marblehead. Sullivan was 27 years old.

54 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on August 15, 1899. He later rose to the rank of Corporal.

Sullivan was born on May 16, 1870 in Cork, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. Sullivan died on March 11, 1955 in Grafton, Massachusetts, at the age of 84. He is buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Uxbridge, Massachusetts.

Sullivan is one of 110 Medal of Honor recipients from the Spanish-American War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Marblehead during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, 11 May 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Sullivan displayed extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Places

  • Born: Cork — map
  • Died: Uxbridge — map
  • Buried: Prospect Hill Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. May 16, 1870
    Born in Cork, Ireland
  2. May 11, 1898
    Act of valor — Cienfuegos, Cuba
    Age 27. U.S.S. Marblehead
  3. August 15, 1899
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 11, 1955
    Died in Grafton, Massachusetts
    Age 84.
  5. Resting place
    Prospect Hill Cemetery
    Uxbridge, Massachusetts

Biography

Corporal Edward Sullivan of the United States Marine Corps was born May 16, 1870, in Cork, Ireland. He died March 11, 1955, at Uxbridge, Massachusetts. Uxbridge, Massachusetts has proud connections to the military history of America. Uniforms for the U.S. military were manufactured in Uxbridge for more than 100 years. Sullivan was awarded the nation's top honor, the Medal of Honor, for heroism during the Spanish–American War of 1898.

From the Wikipedia article “Edward Sullivan (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Also honored for actions on May 11, 1898

Benjamin F. Baker Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 DB David Duffy Barrow Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 JB James Harvey Bennett Chief Boatswain's Mate · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 AB Albert Beyer Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 RB Robert Blume Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 GB George F. Brady Chief Gunner's Mate · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 GB George Washington Bright Coal Passer · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 DC Daniel J. Campbell Private · Marine Corps Spanish-American War · 1898 JC Joseph Edward Carter Blacksmith · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 LC Leonard B. Chadwick Apprentice First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 TC Thomas C. Cooney Chief Machinist · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 John Davis Gunner's Mate Third Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898

See all 55 recipients for May 11, 1898 →

Same unit

WF William Farley Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1863 WM William Henry Morin Boatswain's Mate Second Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 WS William Spicer Gunner's Mate First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 AS Axel Leohard Sundquist Chief Carpenter's Mate · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 ST Samuel S. Triplett Ordinary Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898

More Spanish-American War recipients from Massachusetts

FM Frederick Muller Mate · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 George Charette Gunner's Mate First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 FK Francis Kelly Watertender · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 GN George Henry Nee Private · Army Spanish-American War · 1898
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.