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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Landsman · U.S. Navy

John Henry Lawson

Landsman John Henry Lawson, 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, 1864

Landsman John Henry Lawson was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on August 5, 1864 at Mobile Bay, Alabama during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Hartford. Lawson was 27 years old.

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

Lawson was born on June 16, 1837 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania. Lawson died on May 3, 1919 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 81. He is buried at Mount Peace Cemetery in Lawnside, New Jersey.

Lawson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the flagship U.S.S. Hartford during successful attacks against Fort Morgan, rebel gunboats, and the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay on 5 August 1864. Wounded in the leg and thrown violently against the side of the ship when an enemy shell killed or wounded the six-man crew as the shell whipped on the berth deck, Lawson, upon regaining his composure, promptly returned to his station and, although urged to go below for treatment, steadfastly continued his duties throughout the remainder of the action.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Philadelphia — map
  • Died: Philadelphia — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →

Timeline

  1. June 16, 1837
    Born in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
  2. August 5, 1864
    Act of valor — Mobile Bay, Alabama
    Age 27. U.S.S. Hartford
  3. May 3, 1919
    Died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    Age 81.
  4. Resting place
    Mount Peace Cemetery
    Lawnside, New Jersey

Biography

John Lawson (June 16, 1837 – May 3, 1919) was a United States Navy sailor who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the American Civil War.

From the Wikipedia article “John Lawson (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

JC John Costello Ordinary Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1876 RR Richard Ryan Ordinary Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1876

More Civil War recipients from Pennsylvania

PW Peter Williams Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1862 CC Charles H. Clausen First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864 HP Hiram W. Purcell Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 William Edward Miller Captain · Army Civil War · 1863 CB Charles Breyer Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1862 HH Henry Hill Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864
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.