Signal Quartermaster Matthew Arther, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on February 14, 1862 in Forts Henry & Donelson, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Carondelet. Arther was about 27 years old.
The medal was presented on February 1864, 2 years after the action.
Arther was born in 1835 in Scotland — one of 41 recipients born in Scotland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Arther died on June 17, 1890 in San Francisco, California, at the age of about 55. He is buried at San Francisco National Cemetery in San Francisco, California.
Arther 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
Served on board the U.S.S. Carondelet at the reduction of Forts Henry and Donelson, 6 and 14 February 1862 and other actions. Carrying out his duties as signal quartermaster and captain of the rifled bow gun, S/Q.M. Arthur was conspicuous for valor and devotion, serving most faithfully, effectively and valiantly.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: American Civil War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Massachusetts →
Timeline
- 1835Born in Scotland
- February 14, 1862Act of valor — Forts Henry & Donelson, TennesseeAge about 27. U.S.S. Carondelet
- February 1864Medal of Honor presented
- June 17, 1890Died in San Francisco, CaliforniaAge about 55.
- Resting placeSan Francisco National CemeterySan Francisco, California
Biography
Matthew Arther (or Arthur) (c. 1835—1890) 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 Battles of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson.
From the Wikipedia article “Matthew Arther”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
