Edward Maddin

He jumped overboard to rescue a drowning shipmate at Lisbon.

Edward Maddin, also recorded as Edward Madden, was born in Newfoundland on 15 May 1852. He served in the U.S. Navy as an ordinary seaman aboard USS Franklin.

On 9 January 1876, while Franklin was at Lisbon, Portugal, Maddin jumped overboard to rescue a member of the ship's crew from drowning. His Medal of Honor citation recognized the courage he showed in entering the water and bringing his shipmate to safety.

The award was accredited to Massachusetts and was made during his lifetime. His recognized action was a lifesaving rescue rather than a battlefield engagement, showing the dangers sailors could face while their ships were in port.

Maddin died in Hampton, Virginia, on 15 August 1925. He is buried in Hampton National Cemetery under the surname Madden. His two recorded surname spellings connect the naval award record with his burial, and his citation preserves the rescue that earned the nation's highest military decoration.

Medal of Honor citation

Served on board the U.S.S. Franklin at Lisbon, Portugal, 9 January 1876. Displaying gallant conduct, Maddin jumped overboard and rescued one of the crew of that vessel from drowning.