James Martin

James Martin II (1826 – October 29, 1895) was a native of Ireland who served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the mid-19th century. Rising up through the ranks from private to sergeant while fighting for the federal government of the United States (Union) during the American Civil War, he displayed conspicuous bravery on August 5, 1864, while serving aboard the . Operating one of that ship's guns under heavy enemy fire for two hours during the Battle of Mobile Bay, Alabama, he helped to damage the and destroy artillery batteries of the Confederate States Army at Fort Morgan, even as the enemy's shell and shot damaged his ship and killed several of his shipmates. In recognition of his gallantry, he was presented with the Medal of Honor, the United States' highest award for valor, on December 31, 1864. Formative years Martin was born in 1826 in Derry in the Kingdom of Ireland. He emigrated sometime before July 1847 when he enrolled for military service in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On April 18, 1860, he became a naturalized American citizen by action of the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia. Military service At the age of 21, James Martin enlisted for military service with the United States Marine Corps. After enrolling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 9, 1847, he was designated as a private and assigned to land duties there prior to transfer to the Marine Barracks in Washington, D.C. (July 14) and Roanoke, Virginia (August 10). Assigned to a Marine Detachment aboard the beginning on August 30, he remained with that ship until transferred to the Marine barracks in Brooklyn, New York on December 14, 1850. Reassigned to the on January 23, 1851, he re-enlisted on May 9 of that year, and served aboard the North Carolina (or the ) before transferring to the on August 4, 1851. Reassigned to duties at the Philadelphia Naval Barracks on October 30, 1852, he then continued to serve on land in Washington, D.C. and Norfolk, Virginia until assigned to the USS Mississippi on November 22 of that year. Reassigned to land duties at the Brooklyn Naval Barracks on April 26, 1855, he re-enlisted for another tour of duty on May 9, and was transferred briefly to Roanoke before being reassigned to the (July 3), where he remained until transferred to the on August 18, 1856. Stationed aboard ship until November of that year, he then moved back and forth between the naval barracks in Brooklyn and Washington, D.C., until reassigned to the on April 2, 1857.