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Watertender · U.S. Navy

Francis Kelly

Watertender Francis Kelly, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 3, 1898 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War June 3, 1898Born in Scotland

Watertender Francis Kelly was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 3, 1898 in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Merrimac. Kelly was 37 years old.

7 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. He later rose to the rank of Chief Machinist's Mate.

Kelly was born on July 5, 1860 in Scotland — one of 41 recipients born in Scotland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. Kelly died on May 19, 1938 in Glasgow, Scotland, at the age of 77. He is buried at Sandymount Cemetery in Glasgow, Scotland. Records also list him as Houston, Archibald.

Kelly 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

In connection with the sinking of the U.S.S. Merrimac at the entrance to the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, 3 June 1898. Despite heavy fire from the Spanish batteries, Kelly displayed extraordinary heroism throughout this operation.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Places

  • Born: Boston — map
  • Died: Glasgow — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

From the archives

Francis Kelly was born under the name Archibald Houston in Glasgow, Scotland. It is unknown at what point he started going by "Francis Kelly" or why he chose to do so. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in April 1898 at Norfolk, Virginia, under the name Francis Kelly. He was taken prisoner by the Spanish following his Medal of Honor actions and held for about a month. Dishcharged in April 1899, he re-enlisted in February 1902 and left from his assigned ship in July 1902 without permission. He was declared a deserter. He turned up decades later in the service of the British Navy, where he had served in World War I. His desertion charge was pardoned by President Calvin Coolidge in 1924.

Timeline

  1. July 5, 1860
    Born in Scotland
  2. June 3, 1898
    Act of valor — Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
    Age 37. U.S.S. Merrimac
  3. May 19, 1938
    Died in Glasgow, Scotland
    Age 77.
  4. Resting place
    Sandymount Cemetery
    Glasgow

Biography

Francis Kelly (July 5, 1859 – May 19, 1938) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Spanish–American War.

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

Also honored for actions on June 3, 1898

George Charette Gunner's Mate First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 Claus Kristian randolph Clausen Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 Osborn Warren Deignan Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 Richmond Pearson Hobson Lieutenant · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 DM Daniel Montague Chief Master-at-Arms · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 JM John Edward Murphy Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 George Frederick Phillips Machinist First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898

More Spanish-American War recipients from Massachusetts

Willard D. Miller Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 FK Franz Kramer Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 AO Anton Olsen Ordinary Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 Harry Herbert Miller Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 FM Frederick Muller Mate · 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.