Henry Lakin Simpson


Henry Lakin Simpson was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. He later attended the United States Naval Academy.
Born in London, England, in 1859, Simpson immigrated to the United States and joined the Navy from New York. By October 31, 1877, he was serving as a first class fireman on the, which was at Monrovia, Liberia. On that day, he and another sailor, Ordinary Seaman John Millmore, rescued their shipmate Ordinary Seaman John W. Powers from drowning. For this action, both Simpson and Millmore were awarded the Medal of Honor seven years later, on October 18, 1884. Simpson's award was posthumous.
Simpson was accepted into the United States Naval Academy as an engineering student. He was admitted to the class of 1882, but resigned his appointment on February 28, 1881, before graduating.
On Apr. 3, 1881 at age 21 Simpson died of consumption on board the City of Savannah and was buried at the Delaware County Society of the New Jerusalem Church Burial Ground in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. In the 1970s all remains were removed and reinterred in a mass grave at Mt Zion Cemetery in Collingdale, Pennsylvania

Medal of Honor citation

Simpson's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For rescuing from drowning John W. Powers, ordinary seaman on board the U.S.S. Essex, at Monrovia, Liberia, 31 October 1877.