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Armorer · U.S. Navy

George Taylor

Armorer George Taylor, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War August 5, 1864Born in England

Armorer George Taylor, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Lackawanna. Taylor was 33 years old.

97 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Taylor was born on November 15, 1830 in Reddich, England — one of 98 recipients born in England. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Taylor died on October 7, 1893 in Paragould, Arkansas, at the age of 62. He is buried at Linwood Cemetery in Paragould, Arkansas. Records also list him as Johnson, George T..

Taylor is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

★ Wounded but Fought On

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Lackawanna during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats, and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864. When an enemy shell exploded in the shellroom, Taylor, although wounded, went into the room and, with his hand, extinguished the fire from the explosion. He then carried out his duties during the remainder of the prolonged action which resulted in the capture of the prize rebel ram Tennessee and the damaging and destruction of Fort Morgan.

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

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

When an enemy shell exploded in the shellroom, Taylor, although wounded, went into the room and, with his hand, extinguished the fire from the explosion.
  • Age at death: 62
  • Resting place: Linwood Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Watertown — map
  • Buried: Paragould — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. November 15, 1830
    Born in Reddich, England
  2. August 5, 1864
    Act of valor — Mobile Bay, Alabama
    Age 33. U.S.S. Lackawanna
  3. October 7, 1893
    Died in Paragould, Arkansas
    Age 62.
  4. Resting place
    Linwood Cemetery
    Paragould, Arkansas

Biography

George Taylor (November 15, 1830 – October 7, 1893) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Mobile Bay.

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

Also honored for actions on August 5, 1864

TA Thomas E. Atkinson Yeoman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JA James Avery Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 CB Charles Baker Quarter Gunner · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB William Blagheen Ship's Cook · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John Brazell Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John Brown Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1864 RB Robert Brown Captain of the Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB William H. Brown Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WB Wilson Brown Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864 JB John M. Burns Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 WC William M. Carr Master-at-Arms · Navy Civil War · 1864 MC Michael Cassidy Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1864

See all 98 recipients for August 5, 1864 →

Same unit

IF Isaac L. Fasseur Ordinary Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1884 Louis Williams Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1883 Louis Williams Captain of the Hold · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1884

More Civil War recipients from New York

EB Edward Brown Jr. Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 AD Andrew Davidson First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 GB George A. Buchanan Private · Army Civil War · 1864 ✦ MR Myron H. Ranney Private · Army Civil War · 1862 Charles Henry Tompkins First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1861 MC Michael Crowley Private · Army Civil War · 1865
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.