William Conway
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| William Conway | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1802[1] or 1808[2] Camden, Maine |
| Died | November 30, 1865[3] Brooklyn, New York |
| Occupation | Quartermaster, Union Navy |
William Conway was a quartermaster in the United States (Union) Navy, on duty when the Navy Yard was surrendered to the Confederacy on January 12, 1861. When Confederate officer Lieutenant Frederick B. Kinshaw, assuming control of the Yard, ordered Conway to strike the colors, he refused to do so, reportedly stating either "I have served under that flag for forty years, and I won't do it,"[4] or "That is the flag of my country. I have given my life to it. I will not haul it down."[5] Conway was subsequently jailed for his indignation.
After his release Conway was commended by the Secretary of the Navy and awarded a gold medal by the State of California. Two U.S. naval destroyers have been named in his honor.
References
- ↑ Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography, 1888. p. 712.
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ [2]
- ↑ Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography, 1888. p. 712.
- ↑ Maine, My State], 1919. p. 268.
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