Michael Thornton
United States Navy sailor and Medal of Honor recipient
About Michael Thornton
Born 1856.
Michael Thornton (1856–??) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
Born in 1856 in Ireland, Thornton immigrated to the United States and joined the Navy from Pennsylvania. By August 26, 1881, he was serving as a seaman on the tugboat . On that day, while Leyden was near Boston, Massachusetts, Landsman Michael Drennan jumped overboard because he was "temporarily insane". Thornton jumped in after him and kept him afloat until they could be rescued. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor three years later, on October 18, 1884.
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was Michael Thornton?
United States Navy sailor and Medal of Honor recipient
When was Michael Thornton born?
Michael Thornton was born in 1856 in Ireland.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Michael Thornton
· DBpedia: Michael Thornton (Medal of Honor, awarded 1884)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Michael Thornton. https://biography.guide/michael-thornton/
MLA: "Michael Thornton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/michael-thornton/.
Chicago: "Michael Thornton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/michael-thornton/.
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