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Lieutenant · U.S. Navy

Richmond Pearson Hobson

Lieutenant Richmond Pearson Hobson, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on June 3, 1898 at Santiago de Cuba harbor entrance, Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

Spanish-American War June 3, 1898

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Lieutenant Richmond Pearson Hobson received the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 3, 1898 at Santiago de Cuba harbor entrance, Cuba during the Spanish-American War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Merrimac. Hobson was 27 years old.

7 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day. The medal was presented on April 29, 1933, 34 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Rear Admiral.

Hobson was born on August 17, 1870 in Greensboro, Hale County, Alabama. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Hobson died on March 16, 1937 in New York, New York, at the age of 66. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Hobson is one of 110 Medal of Honor recipients from the Spanish-American War and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

In connection with the sinking of the U.S.S. Merrimac at the entrance to the fortified harbor of Santiago de Cuba, 3 June 1898. Despite persistent fire from the enemy fleet and fortifications onshore, Lt. Hobson distinguished himself by extraordinary courage and carried out this operation at the risk of his own personal safety.

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: Spanish–American War.

Life beyond the battlefield

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Greensboro — map
  • Died: New York City — map
  • Buried: Arlington National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. August 17, 1870
    Born in Greensboro, Hale County, Alabama
  2. June 3, 1898
    Act of valor — Santiago de Cuba harbor entrance, Cuba
    Age 27. U.S.S. Merrimac
  3. April 29, 1933
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. March 16, 1937
    Died in New York, New York
    Age 66.
  5. Resting place
    Arlington National Cemetery
    Arlington, Virginia

Biography

Richmond Pearson Hobson (August 17, 1870 – March 16, 1937) was a United States Navy rear admiral who served from 1907 to 1915 as a U.S. representative from Alabama. A veteran of the Spanish–American War, he received the Medal of Honor years later for his part in that conflict. He later became a leading proponent of Prohibition in the United States.

From the Wikipedia article “Richmond P. Hobson”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Named in his honor

Also honored for actions on June 3, 1898

George Charette Gunner's Mate First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 Claus Kristian randolph Clausen Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 Osborn Warren Deignan Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 FK Francis Kelly Watertender · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 DM Daniel Montague Chief Master-at-Arms · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 JM John Edward Murphy Coxswain · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 George Frederick Phillips Machinist First Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898

More Spanish-American War recipients from New York

JB James Harvey Bennett Chief Boatswain's Mate · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 JM John Maxwell Fireman Second Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 GS Gustav Adolf Sundquist Ordinary Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 John Davis Gunner's Mate Third Class · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898 Albert Leopold Mills Captain & Assistant Adjutant General · Army Spanish-American War · 1898 JJ Johan J. Johansson Ordinary Seaman · Navy Spanish-American War · 1898
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.