Francis Kelly

Braved Spanish fire during the Merrimac operation

Francis Kelly was born Archibald Houston in Glasgow, Scotland, on 5 July 1860. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at Norfolk, Virginia, in April 1898 under the name Francis Kelly.

As a watertender aboard USS Merrimac, he took part in the ship's sinking at the entrance to Santiago de Cuba harbor on 3 June 1898. His Medal of Honor recognized extraordinary heroism under fire from Spanish batteries. Captured afterward, he spent about a month as a prisoner.

Kelly was discharged in April 1899 and reenlisted in February 1902. After leaving his assigned ship without permission that July, he was declared a deserter. He later served in the British Navy during World War I, and President Calvin Coolidge pardoned the desertion charge in 1924.

Kelly died in Glasgow on 19 May 1938 and is buried in Sandymount Cemetery. His naval record connects his Medal of Honor service with both recorded names.

Medal of Honor citation

In connection with the sinking of the U.S.S. Merrimac at the entrance to the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, 3 June 1898. Despite heavy fire from the Spanish batteries, Kelly displayed extraordinary heroism throughout this operation.