William Longshaw, Jr.

William Longshaw, Jr. (26 April 1836 – 15 January 1865) was a British-born physician who served in the United States Union Navy during the American Civil War.

Biography

William Longshaw was born in Russell Street, Manchester, England in April 1836 and emigrated to the United States of America with his parents (William and Margaret) from the port of Liverpool to New York, United States arriving 31 March 1842 on board the Ship Siberia.^[1]

William was the eldest of two children born to William and Margaret Longshaw, his brother Luther M. Longshaw was born 31 July 1843 in Lowell, Massachusetts and died 27 May 1921 in Baltimore, Maryland. Luther served in the United States Army from 1866 to 1875. He was a Second then First Lieutenant in the 4th Infantry Regiment.^[2]

William Longshaw applied to the United States Military Academy, New York, in a letter dated 22 February 1853,^[3] he stated he would be 17 years old next April (1853) - his application was accepted.

He studied pharmacology at University of Louisiana (now Tulane University) and received a medical degree from the University of Michigan in 1859. He entered the Navy as an assistant surgeon 25 April 1862.

While serving in the screw steamer Lehigh, Longshaw showed outstanding courage in an engagement with Confederate batteries on Sullivan's Island, Charleston, South Carolina, 16 November 1863. After the ship had grounded while shelling Confederate forts at Cummings Point, a hawser had to be passed to steamer Nahant, which was standing by. Dr. Longshaw, in an open boat, carried a line for the first two hawsers across to Nahant. Confederate fire was so intense that both hawsers were shot away. Lehigh was eventually refloated when Nahant pulled her free with a third hawser. Longshaw's gallantry in this action was praised by Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren and Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles.

Dr. William Longshaw, Jr. was killed in the assault on Fort Fisher, 15 January 1865, while binding up the wounds of a dying marine. Though he had received a leave of absence that same day, he voluntarily postponed his departure to serve during the assault. He is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett, Massachusetts.

Namesake

In 1943, the destroyer USS Longshaw (DD-559) was named in his honor.

References

1. ↑ see: 1841 Census England, Passenger List Arrivals at New York 31 March 1842, 1850 & 1860 U.S. Federal Census and U.S. 1855 State Census for Lowell, Massachusetts
2. ↑ Boston Daily Globe - 31 May 1921, "Funeral this Morning of Lieut. Luther M. LONGSHAW"
3. ↑ [Ref:- 1853/168 West Point Academy]

This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships.