Fireman First Class Henry Simpson was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 31, 1877 in Monrovia, Liberia — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Essex. Simpson was about 18 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Simpson was born in 1859 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For rescuing from drowning John W. Powers, ordinary seaman on board the U.S.S. Essex, at Monrovia, Liberia, 31 October 1877.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Education: United States Naval Academy
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
From the archives
For many years, the wrong Henry Simpson was given credit as the Medal of Honor Recipient. As it turns out, there were two Henry Simpsons on board the USS Essex in 1877. One was a First Class Fireman (and received the Medal of Honor) and the other was a First Class Boy (and attended the US Naval Academy). They could not be the same individual as, according to the Essex's muster rolls, the two men were born in different places approximately thirteen years apart. Also, the First Class Boy was discharged from the Essex in July 1877 --- the valor that resulted in the Medal of Honor occurred three months later in October 1877. First Class Fireman Simpson was still onboard the Essex in October 1877. He continued his Navy service until deserting in June 1884 from the USS Yantic in New York City, NY.
Timeline
- 1859Born in Ireland
- October 31, 1877Act of valor — Monrovia, LiberiaAge about 18. U.S.S. Essex
Biography
Henry Lakin Simpson (1859 – April 3, 1881) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. He later attended the United States Naval Academy. Born in London, England, in 1859, Simpson emigrated to the United States and joined the Navy from New York. By October 31, 1877, he was serving as a first class fireman on the USS Essex, which was at Monrovia, Liberia. On that day, he and another sailor, Ordinary Seaman John Millmore, rescued their shipmate Ordinary Seaman John W. Powers from drowning. For this action, both Simpson and Millmore were awarded the Medal of Honor seven years later, on October 18, 1884.
From the Wikipedia article “Henry Lakin Simpson”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →