Peter Williams

Peter Williams (born c. 1831, date of death unknown) was a Union Navy sailor in the American Civil War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. He earned the award for steering throughout the Battle of Hampton Roads, the first combat between ironclad warships in history.

Biography Born in 1831 in Norway, Williams immigrated to the United States and lived in California. He worked as a civilian sailor for nine years before joining the U.S. Navy in New York on January 27, 1862, for a three-year term of service. His enlistment papers record him as being 5 feet 4 inches tall with blue eyes, brown hair, and a "florid" complexion. Following brief assignments to and the receiving ship , Williams was transferred to the newly built , the first ironclad warship of the Union Navy, by March 6, 1862.