About William Sharp Bush
Lived 1786 – 1812 (aged 25–26). William Sharp Bush was a military officer.
William Sharp Bush (c. 1786–1812) was an officer in the United States Marine Corps during the War of 1812. He was the first Marine Corps officer to be killed in combat.
Born in Wilmington, Delaware, Bush was appointed as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps on 3 July 1809, and was promoted to first lieutenant on 4 March 1811.
He died while serving aboard , when he fell mortally wounded while attempting to board the frigate on 19 August 1812. He was posthumously awarded a silver medal by the United States Congress. His silver medal was presented to his nearest male relative, Lewis Bush Jackson, in early 1835.
Namesake Two destroyers in the U.S. Navy have been named after Bush. The first, , was a that served from 1919 to 1922 and was scrapped in 1936. The second, , was a that served during World War II from 1943 to 1945. She was sunk in April 1945 off of Okinawa after being struck by three Japanese kamikaze aircraft during the naval invasion of Okinawa.
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Important facts
People in William Sharp Bush's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped William Sharp Bush's
Frequently asked questions
Who was William Sharp Bush?
American Marine Corps Lieutenant
When was William Sharp Bush born?
William Sharp Bush was born in 1786 in Wilmington.
When did William Sharp Bush die?
William Sharp Bush died in 1812.
What was William Sharp Bush's occupation?
William Sharp Bush was a military officer.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: William Sharp Bush
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Sharp Bush. https://biography.guide/william-sharp-bush/
MLA: "William Sharp Bush." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-sharp-bush/.
Chicago: "William Sharp Bush." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-sharp-bush/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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