Boatswain's Mate William C. Connor was a sailor in the U.S. Navy who received the Medal of Honor for his actions on September 25, 1864 off Wilmington, North Carolina during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Howquah. Connor was about 32 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Connor was born in 1832 in Cork, County Cork, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Pennsylvania. Connor died on January 12, 1912, at the age of about 80. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, New York.
Connor is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Served on board the U.S.S. Howquah on the occasion of the destruction of the blockade runner Lynx, off Wilmington, 25 September 1864. Performing his duty faithfully under the most trying circumstances, Connor stood firmly at his post in the midst of a cross-fire from the rebel shore batteries and our own vessels.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- 1832Born in Cork, County Cork, Ireland
- September 25, 1864Act of valor — off Wilmington, North CarolinaAge about 32. U.S.S. Howquah
- January 12, 1912DiedAge about 80.
- Resting placeCalvary CemeteryWoodside, New York
Biography
Boatswain's Mate William C. Connor (1832–1912) was an Irish soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Connor received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action aboard the USS Howquah on 25 September 1864. He was honored with the award on 31 December 1864.
From the Wikipedia article “William C. Connor”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
