Hugh Wilson McKee (April 23, 1844 – June 11, 1871) was an American

naval officer An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service. Broadly speaking, "officer" means a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer, or a warrant officer. However, absent context ...

in the 1870s who participated in the

United States expedition to Korea The United States expedition to Korea, known in Korea as the ''Shinmiyangyo'' () or simply the Korean Expedition, was the first American military action in Korea and took place predominantly on and around Ganghwa Island in 1871. The reason fo ...

in 1871.

Early life and military service

McKee was born in

Lexington, Kentucky Lexington is a city in Kentucky, United States that is the county seat of Fayette County, Kentucky, Fayette County. By population, it is the List of cities in Kentucky, second-largest city in Kentucky and List of United States cities by popul ...

to a military family. His father, William R. McKee, was a US Army colonel who had been killed in action commanding the Second Kentucky Regiment in the

Battle of Buena Vista The Battle of Buena Vista (February 22–23, 1847), known as the Battle of La Angostura in Mexico, and sometimes as Battle of Buena Vista/La Angostura, was a battle of the Mexican–American War. It was fought between the US invading forces, l ...

during the

Mexican–American War The Mexican–American War, also known in the United States as the Mexican War and in Mexico as the (''United States intervention in Mexico''), was an armed conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848. It followed the 1 ...

. Hugh McKee was appointed to the

Naval Academy A naval academy provides education for prospective naval officers. See also * Military academy A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps. It normally pro ...

September 25, 1861 and graduated in 1866. His early duty stations included service in the Practice Squadron and aboard the USS ''Rhode Island'', flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron. In 1867–1869, he was assigned to the steam frigate ''Franklin'' and steam sloop of war ''Ticonderoga'', both operating in European waters. McKee was promoted to ensign in March 1868.

United States expedition to Korea

McKee had attained the rank of

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

by March 1870, and was serving in the

Asiatic Squadron The Asiatic Squadron was a squadron of United States Navy warships stationed in East Asia during the latter half of the 19th century. It was created in 1868 when the East India Squadron was disbanded. Vessels of the squadron were primarily invo ...

as an officer of the USS ''Colorado''. He was mortally wounded June 11, 1871, while leading a company of bluejackets over the walls of a

Korea Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...

n fort on

Ganghwa Island Ganghwa Island (Hangul ; Hanja ), also known by its native name Ganghwado, is a South Korean island in the estuary of the Han River. It is in the Yellow Sea, off Korea's west coast. The island is separated from Gimpo (on the South Korean mainla ...

close by the

Inchon Incheon (; ; or Inch'ŏn; literally "kind river"), formerly Jemulpo or Chemulp'o (제물포) until the period after 1910, officially the Incheon Metropolitan City (인천광역시, 仁川廣域市), is a city located in northwestern South Kore ...

beaches during the

. Fifteen sailors and Marines received the

Medal of Honor The Medal of Honor (MOH) is the United States Armed Forces' highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, guardians and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. ...

for their actions during the battle including

William F. Lukes William F. Lukes (February 19, 1847 – December 13, 1923) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the 1871 Korean Expedition. Biography William F. Lukes ...

, Alexander McKenzie,

Samuel F. Rogers Samuel F. Rogers (July 23, 1834 – November 1, 1905) was a United States Navy Quartermaster received the Medal of Honor for actions during the Korean Expedition. He was awarded the medal for his rescue of the mortally wounded Lieutenant Hugh McK ...

, and William Troy, who attempted to save McKee, as well as

Frederick Franklin Frederick Franklin (1840 – May 10, 1873) was a United States Navy sailor who received the Medal of Honor for actions during the 1871 Korean Campaign. Biography Frederick H. Franklin was born in 1840 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He, along ...

, who assumed command of McKee's company until relieved. McKee died on board the USS ''Monocacy'' at 5:45 p.m. that afternoon and his body was sent to his ship, the ''Colorado'', the next day. His remains were later sent to Shanghai and from there to the United States.Lexington Morning Herald November 28, 1897 He was interred at

Lexington Cemetery Lexington Cemetery is a private, non-profit rural cemetery and arboretum located at 833 W. Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky. The Lexington Cemetery was established in 1848 as a place of beauty and a public cemetery, in part to deal ...

. He never married and had no descendants. Three ships of the U.S. Navy have been named USS ''McKee'' in his honor.

Notes

References

: {{DEFAULTSORT:McKee, Hugh 1871 deaths United States Navy officers United States Naval Academy alumni Military personnel from Lexington, Kentucky 1844 births Military personnel from Kentucky American military personnel killed in action