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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Seaman · U.S. Navy

John Swanson

Seaman John Swanson, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War January 15, 1865Born in Sweden

Seaman John Swanson was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on January 15, 1865 at Fort Fisher, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba. Swanson was about 23 years old.

30 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on May 28, 1900, 35 years after the action. Medal of Honor mailed to his home in Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 28, 1900.

Swanson was born in 1842 in Gothenburg, Sweden — one of 17 recipients born in Sweden. His Medal of Honor is credited to Massachusetts. Swanson died on June 13, 1923 in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the age of about 81. He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianspolis, Indiana. Records also list him as Johnson, Jacob.

Swanson is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 265 credited to Massachusetts.

Official Medal of Honor citation

On board the U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba during the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865. As one of a boat crew detailed to one of the generals onshore, Swanson bravely entered the fort in the assault and accompanied his party in carrying dispatches at the height of the battle. He was one of six men who entered the fort in the assault from the fleet.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Places

  • Born: Sweden — map
  • Died: Indiana — map
  • Buried: Crown Hill Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →

Timeline

  1. 1842
    Born in Gothenburg, Sweden
  2. January 15, 1865
    Act of valor — Fort Fisher, North Carolina
    Age about 23. U.S.S. Santiago de Cuba
  3. May 28, 1900
    Medal of Honor presented
    Medal of Honor mailed to his home in Indianapolis, Indiana, on May 28, 1900.
  4. June 13, 1923
    Died in Indianapolis, Indiana
    Age about 81.
  5. Resting place
    Crown Hill Cemetery
    Indianspolis, Indiana

Biography

John Swanson (c. 1842 – June 13, 1923) was a sailor in the U.S. Navy during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher on January 15, 1865. His birth name was Jacob Johnson.

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

Also honored for actions on January 15, 1865

BA Bruce Anderson Private · Army Civil War · 1865 GB Gurdon H. Barter Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1865 DB David L. Bass Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 PB Philip Bazaar Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 AB Albert Burton Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 Alaric B. Chapin Private · Army Civil War · 1865 TC Thomas Connor Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 Newton Martin Curtis Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1865 William Henry Freeman Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JG John Griffiths Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1865 TH Thomas Harcourt Ordinary Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1865 TK Thomas Kane Captain of the Hold · Navy Civil War · 1865

See all 31 recipients for January 15, 1865 →

More Civil War recipients from Massachusetts

RB Robert M. Boody Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 George Mason Lovering First Sergeant · Army Civil War · 1863 Lowell Mason Maxham Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Orlando Phidelio Boss Corporal · Army Civil War · 1864 Charles N. Gardner Private · Army Civil War · 1865 PB Philip Baybutt Private · 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.