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Quartermaster · U.S. Navy

Richard Hamilton Taylor

Quartermaster Richard Hamilton Taylor, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on March 19, 1889 in Apia, Samoa (Interim 1871–1899).

Interim 1871 - 1899 March 19, 1889

Quartermaster Richard Hamilton Taylor was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on March 19, 1889 in Apia, Samoa — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Nipsic. Taylor was 18 years old.

He later rose to the rank of Schoolmaster.

Taylor was born on September 8, 1870 in Staunton, Staunton County, Virginia. His Medal of Honor is credited to Virginia. Taylor died on March 24, 1956 in Cambridge (Holy Ghost Hospital), Massachusetts, at the age of 85. He is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Serving on board the U.S.S. Nipsic, Taylor displayed gallantry during the hurricane at Apia, Samoa, 16 March 1889.

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

Places

  • Born: Staunton — map
  • Buried: Massachusetts — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Virginia →

Timeline

  1. September 8, 1870
    Born in Staunton, Staunton County, Virginia
  2. March 19, 1889
    Act of valor — Apia, Samoa
    Age 18. U.S.S. Nipsic
  3. March 24, 1956
    Died in Cambridge (Holy Ghost Hospital), Massachusetts
    Age 85.
  4. Resting place
    Evergreen Cemetery
    Boston, Massachusetts

Biography

Richard Hamilton Taylor (September 8, 1870 – March 24, 1956) was a quartermaster serving in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for bravery. Taylor was born in Staunton, Virginia, and later joined the navy. He was stationed aboard the USS Nipsic (1863) as a quartermaster when, on March 16, 1889, a hurricane overwhelmed the ship while it was moored in Apia, Samoa. For his actions received the Medal of Honor March 20, 1905.

From the Wikipedia article “Richard H. Taylor”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Further reading

More Interim 1871–1899 recipients from Virginia

DA Daniel Atkins Ship's Cook First Class · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1898 JO James Francis O'Conner Landsman Engineer's Force · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1880 TS Thomas Smith Seaman · Navy Interim 1871–1899 · 1878
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.