William Smith (Medal of Honor)

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William Smith
1838 – January 12, 1902(aged 64)
Medal of Honor recipient
Place of birth	Ireland
Place of death	Merrimack County, N.H.
Allegiance	Union
Service/branch	Union Navy
Rank	Quartermaster
Unit	U.S.S. Kearsarge
Battles/wars	American Civil War Cherbourg, France
Awards	Medal of Honor

William Smith (1838 – January 12, 1902) was born in Ireland and was a Union Navy sailor during the American Civil War who received America's highest military decoration the Medal of Honor for his actions at Cherbourg, France. He was buried at Blossom Hill Cemetery in Concord, Merrimack County, New Hampshire.^[1]

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Rank and Organization:

Quartermaster, U.S. Navy. Born: 1838, Ireland. Accredited to: New Hampshire. G.O. No.: 45, 31 December 1864.

Citation:

Served as second quartermaster on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg, France, 19 June 1864. Acting as captain of the 11-inch pivot gun of the second division, Smith carried out his duties courageously and deserved special notice for the deliberate and cool manner in which he acted throughout the bitter engagement. It is stated by rebel officers that this gun was more destructive and did more damage than any other gun of Kearsarge.^[2]^[3]