Robert Brown (sailor)

Robert Brown
Reverse of Brown's Medal of Honor
Born	1830 Norway
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Rank	Captain of the Top
Unit	USS Richmond
Battles/wars	American Civil War  • Battle of Mobile Bay
Awards	Medal of Honor

Robert Brown (born 1830, date of death unknown) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War and a recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions at the Battle of Mobile Bay.

Born in 1830 in Norway, Brown 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 captain of the top on the USS Richmond. At the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, he was "[c]ool and courageous" despite heavy fire. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor four months later, on December 31, 1864.^[1][2]

Brown's official Medal of Honor citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Richmond in action at Mobile Bay on 5 August 1864. Cool and courageous at his station throughout the prolonged action, Brown rendered gallant service as his vessel trained her guns on Fort Morgan and on ships of the Confederacy despite extremely heavy return fire. He participated in the actions at Forts Jackson and St. Philip, with the Chalmette batteries, at the surrender of New Orleans and in the attacks on batteries below Vicksburg.^[2]

References

1. "Robert Brown". Hall of Valor. Military Times. Retrieved September 28, 2012.
2. "Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients (A–L)". Medal of Honor Citations. United States Army Center of Military History. June 26, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2012.