Name Thomas Robinson Role Medal of Honor Rank Petty officer | Died May 12, 1915 Awards Medal of Honor | |
Born May 17, 1837
Norway ( 1837-05-17 ) Place of burial Lakewood Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota | ||
Service/branch United States Navy Allegiance United States of America | ||
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.
Robinson's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For heroic efforts to save from drowning Wellington Brocar, landsman, of the Tallapoosa, off New Orleans, 15 July 1866.
Robinson died at age 77 and was buried at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis, Minnesota.