John F. Bickford (March 12, 1843 – April 28, 1927) received the
Medal of Honor in the
American Civil War.
Biography
Bickford was born in
Tremont, Maine
Tremont is a town in Hancock County, Maine, United States. It is located on the southwestern side of Mount Desert Island, known to locals as "the quiet side."
Tremont includes the villages of Bass Harbor (or McKinley), Bernard, Gotts Island, ...
, and joined the Navy from
Boston,
Massachusetts in January 1862. He rose to the rank of captain of the top (roughly equivalent to the modern day rank of petty officer) and was assigned to the . He participated in the Kearsarge's historic engagement with the
CSS ''Alabama'' on June 19, 1864. Bickford later received the
Medal of Honor for heroism during this battle.
After the battle, he was promoted to Acting
Master's Mate in July 1864. He was discharged from the Navy in June 1865.
Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors and Marines in the Civil War
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He was a companion of the Naval Order of the United States The Naval Order of the United States was established in 1890 as a hereditary organization in the United States for members of the American sea services. Its primary mission is to encourage research and writing on naval and maritime subjects and pr ...
.
Bickford died on April 28, 1927. He is buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Gloucester, Massachusetts
Gloucester () is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It sits on Cape Ann and is a part of Massachusetts's North Shore. The population was 29,729 at the 2020 U.S. Census. An important center of the fishing industry and a ...
.
Medal of Honor citation
Rank and organization: Captain of the Top, U.S. Navy. Born: 1843, Tremont, Maine. Accredited to: Maine. G.O. No.: 45, December 31, 1864.
Citation:
Served on board the U.S.S. Kearsarge when she destroyed the Alabama off Cherbourg, France, June 19, 1864. Acting as the first loader of the pivot gun during this bitter engagement Bickford exhibited marked coolness and good conduct and was highly recommended for his gallantry under fire by his divisional officer.
See also
* List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: A–F
References
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1843 births
1927 deaths
United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients
People of Maine in the American Civil War
Union Navy sailors
People from Tremont, Maine
American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor
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