William Lowell Hill
Encyclopedia
William Lowell Hill was a United States Navy
officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
. He was awarded the medal as an enlisted sailor for rescuing a drowning shipmate in 1881. Hill went on to serve in the Spanish–American War and reached the warrant officer
rank of chief boatswain
. His life-long Navy career finished with his command of two prison ship
s at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
.
, the son of Henry Clay and Margaret (Cater) Hill. He enlisted in the Navy from New York
on November 18, 1873.
By June 22, 1881, he was serving as a captain of the top on the training ship . On that day, while Minnesota was at Newport, Rhode Island
, Third Class Boy William Mulcahy fell overboard. Hill jumped into the water and kept the sailor afloat until they were picked up by a launch
. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor three years later, on October 18, 1884.
Hill's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
Hill was then assigned to a series of ships: (1881–1883), USS Galatea (1885–1886), (1889–1891), (1886–1899), and (1901–1904). During the Spanish–American War, he served on Brooklyn at the warrant officer
rank of boatswain
and received a commendation from Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley
for his actions at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
. A year later, in 1899, he was promoted to chief warrant officer. In 1901 he testified before a court of inquiry regarding Admiral Schley's conduct in the war.
In 1904, Hill was placed in command of the prison ships and at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
near Portsmouth, New Hampshire
. He became known for his prison reform
measures, such as discontinuing the use of leg irons, which were adopted at other institutions.
Hill's first wife was F. Blanche Hedden of Troy, New York
, whom he married in 1881. After Blanche's death, he married Katherine Sweetser on February 3, 1917; she had been his first wife's best friend. He was an active freemason
while living in Portsmouth, joining a lodge there in 1905.
Hill committed suicide at age 66 on August 2, 1922, at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He was buried at Lindenwood Cemetery in Stoneham, Massachusetts
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
. He was awarded the medal as an enlisted sailor for rescuing a drowning shipmate in 1881. Hill went on to serve in the Spanish–American War and reached the warrant officer
Warrant Officer (United States)
In the United States military, the rank of warrant officer is rated as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks, as well as officer cadets and candidates, but below the officer grade of O-1...
rank of chief boatswain
Boatswain
A boatswain , bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship's deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews...
. His life-long Navy career finished with his command of two prison ship
Prison ship
A prison ship, historically sometimes called a prison hulk, is a vessel used as a prison, often to hold convicts awaiting transportation to penal colonies. This practice was popular with the British government in the 18th and 19th centuries....
s at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard , often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is used for remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships...
.
Biography
Hill was born on October 17, 1855, in Auburn, IowaAuburn, Iowa
Auburn is a city in Sac County, Iowa, United States. The population was 296 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Auburn is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, the son of Henry Clay and Margaret (Cater) Hill. He enlisted in the Navy from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
on November 18, 1873.
By June 22, 1881, he was serving as a captain of the top on the training ship . On that day, while Minnesota was at Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, Third Class Boy William Mulcahy fell overboard. Hill jumped into the water and kept the sailor afloat until they were picked up by a launch
Launch (boat)
A launch in contemporary usage refers to a large motorboat. The name originally referred to the largest boat carried by a warship. The etymology of the word is given as Portuguese lancha "barge", from Malay lancha, lancharan, "boat," from lanchar "velocity without effort," "action of gliding...
. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor three years later, on October 18, 1884.
Hill's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
Serving on board the U.S. Training Ship Minnesota at Newport, R.I., 22 June 1881, Hill jumped overboard and sustained William Mulcahy, third class boy, who had fallen overboard, until picked up by a steam launch.
Hill was then assigned to a series of ships: (1881–1883), USS Galatea (1885–1886), (1889–1891), (1886–1899), and (1901–1904). During the Spanish–American War, he served on Brooklyn at the warrant officer
Warrant Officer (United States)
In the United States military, the rank of warrant officer is rated as an officer above the senior-most enlisted ranks, as well as officer cadets and candidates, but below the officer grade of O-1...
rank of boatswain
Boatswain
A boatswain , bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. The boatswain supervises the other unlicensed members of the ship's deck department, and typically is not a watchstander, except on vessels with small crews...
and received a commendation from Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley
Winfield Scott Schley
Winfield Scott Schley was a rear admiral in the United States Navy and the hero of the Battle of Santiago Bay during the Spanish-American War.-Civil War:...
for his actions at the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
Battle of Santiago de Cuba
The Battle of Santiago de Cuba, fought between Spain and the United States on 3 July 1898, was the largest naval engagement of the Spanish-American War and resulted in the destruction of the Spanish Navy's Caribbean Squadron.-Spanish Fleet:...
. A year later, in 1899, he was promoted to chief warrant officer. In 1901 he testified before a court of inquiry regarding Admiral Schley's conduct in the war.
In 1904, Hill was placed in command of the prison ships and at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard , often called the Portsmouth Navy Yard, is a United States Navy shipyard located in Kittery on the southern boundary of Maine near the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It is used for remodeling and repairing the Navy's ships...
near Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
. He became known for his prison reform
Prison reform
Prison reform is the attempt to improve conditions inside prisons, aiming at a more effective penal system.-History:Prisons have only been used as the primary punishment for criminal acts in the last couple of centuries...
measures, such as discontinuing the use of leg irons, which were adopted at other institutions.
Hill's first wife was F. Blanche Hedden of Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, whom he married in 1881. After Blanche's death, he married Katherine Sweetser on February 3, 1917; she had been his first wife's best friend. He was an active freemason
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
while living in Portsmouth, joining a lodge there in 1905.
Hill committed suicide at age 66 on August 2, 1922, at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He was buried at Lindenwood Cemetery in Stoneham, Massachusetts
Stoneham, Massachusetts
Stoneham is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Its population was 21,437 at the 2010 census, down from 22,219 in 2000. The town is the birthplace of Olympic figure skating medalist Nancy Kerrigan and is the home of the Stone Zoo.- History :...
.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients during peacetime