Captain of the Afterguard Thomas Robinson, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 15, 1866 off New Orleans, Louisiana — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1865 - 1870 period. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Tallapoosa. Robinson was 29 years old.
Robinson was born on May 17, 1837 in Norway — one of 22 recipients born in Norway. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York. Robinson died on May 12, 1915, at the age of 77. He is buried at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Official Medal of Honor citation
For heroic efforts to save from drowning Wellington Brocar, landsman, of the Tallapoosa, off New Orleans, 15 July 1866.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- May 17, 1837Born in Norway
- July 15, 1866Act of valor — off New Orleans, LouisianaAge 29. U.S.S. Tallapoosa
- May 12, 1915DiedAge 77.
- Resting placeLakewood CemeteryMinneapolis, Minnesota
Biography
Thomas Robinson (May 17, 1837 – May 12, 1915) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. A native of Norway, Robinson immigrated to the United States and joined the Navy from the state of New York. By July 15, 1866, he was serving as captain of the afterguard on the USS Tallapoosa. On that day, while the Tallapoosa was off the coast of New Orleans, Louisiana, he attempted to rescue a shipmate, Landsman Wellington Brocar, from drowning. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor two weeks later, on August 1.
From the Wikipedia article “Thomas Robinson (Medal of Honor, 1866)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
