William Sweeney
United States Navy sailor and Medal of Honor recipient
About William Sweeney
Born 1856. William Sweeney was an American.
William Sweeney (born 1856, date of death unknown) 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 Boston, Massachusetts, Sweeney joined the Navy from that state. By June 15, 1880, he was serving as a landsman in the engineering department of the . On that night, while Jean Sands was outside the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, he and another sailor, Landsman James F. O'Conner, jumped overboard and rescued a young girl from drowning. For this action, both Sweeney and O'Conner were awarded the Medal of Honor four years later, on October 18, 1884.
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Important facts
Frequently asked questions
Who was William Sweeney?
United States Navy sailor and Medal of Honor recipient
When was William Sweeney born?
William Sweeney was born in 1856 in Boston.
What nationality was William Sweeney?
William Sweeney was American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: William Sweeney (Medal of Honor)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Sweeney. https://biography.guide/william-sweeney-1856/
MLA: "William Sweeney." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-sweeney-1856/.
Chicago: "William Sweeney." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-sweeney-1856/.
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