John McGowan

John McGowan (born 1831, 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 Forts Jackson and St. Philip.

Biography Born in 1831 in Ireland, McGowan 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 quartermaster on the . At the Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip near New Orleans on April 24, 1862, Varuna was rammed twice by the Confederate steamer (formerly known as the Charles Morgan) and eventually sunk. McGowan was stationed at the ship's wheel and showed "the greatest courage and skill" throughout the close-range fight. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor a year later, on April 3, 1863.