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Coxswain · U.S. Navy

Timothy Sullivan

Coxswain Timothy Sullivan, Navy, received the Medal of Honor in Arkansas, Tennessee & Mississippi during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War Born in Ireland

Coxswain Timothy Sullivan was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in Arkansas, Tennessee & Mississippi during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Louisville.

The medal was presented on September 5, 1863 — on board the USS Louisville by Captain K. Owen.

Sullivan was born in 1835 in Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to New York, New York. Sullivan died on October 6, 1910 in Sawtelle, California, at the age of about 75. He is buried at Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Sullivan is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 678 credited to New York.

Official Medal of Honor citation

Served on board the U.S.S. Louisville during various actions of that vessel. During the engagements of the Louisville, Sullivan served as first captain of a 9-inch gun and throughout this period of service was "especially commended for his attention to duty, bravery, and coolness in action."

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

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: American Civil War.

Life beyond the battlefield

  • Occupations: coxswain

Source: Wikidata.

Places

  • Born: Ireland — map
  • Buried: Los Angeles National Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →

Timeline

  1. 1835
    Born in Ireland
  2. September 5, 1863
    Medal of Honor presented
    On board the USS Louisville by Captain K. Owen
  3. October 6, 1910
    Died in Sawtelle, California
    Age about 75.
  4. Resting place
    Los Angeles National Cemetery
    Los Angeles, California

Biography

Timothy Sullivan (c. 1835 – October 6, 1910) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Born in about 1835 in Ireland, Sullivan immigrated to the United States and was living in New York when he joined the U.S. Navy. He served during the Civil War as a coxswain on the USS Louisville. Acting as a gun captain during battle, Sullivan showed "attention to duty, bravery, and coolness" through various engagements. For these actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor on April 3, 1863. Sullivan's official Medal of Honor citation reads: Served on board the U.S.S. Louisville during various actions of that vessel.

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

Same unit

CB Charles Bradley Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1863 JB James Byrnes Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1863 WT William Talbott Captain of the Forecastle · Navy Civil War · 1863

More Civil War recipients from New York

RM Richard Christopher Mangam Private · Army Civil War · 1865 JL John S. Lann Landsman · Navy Civil War · 1865 TP Thomas Perry Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1864 MM Matthew McClelland First Class Fireman · Navy Civil War · 1863 JL James H. Lee Seaman · Navy Civil War · 1864 AD Andrew Davidson First Lieutenant · 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.