Captain of the Afterguard John Brown was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on May 10, 1866 off Eastport, Maine — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1865 - 1870 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Winooski. Brown was about 28 years old.
2 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Brown was born in 1838 in Denmark — one of 11 recipients born in Denmark. His Medal of Honor is credited to Maryland.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For heroic conduct with two comrades, in rescuing from drowning James Rose and John Russell, seamen of the U.S.S. Winooski, off Eastport, Maine, 10 May 1866.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
- Born: Denmark — map
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Maryland →
Timeline
- 1838Born in Denmark
- May 10, 1866Act of valor — off Eastport, MaineAge about 28. U.S.S. Winooski
Biography
John Brown (born c. 1838, date of death unknown) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. A native of Denmark, Brown immigrated to the U.S. and joined the Navy from Maryland. By May 10, 1866, he was serving as captain of the afterguard on the USS De Soto. On that day, while the De Soto was off the coast of Eastport, Maine, he and two shipmates rescued two sailors from the USS Winooski from drowning. For this action, he and his shipmates, Seaman Richard Bates and Seaman Thomas Burke, were awarded the Medal of Honor three months later, on August 1.
From the Wikipedia article “John Brown (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →