Daniel Montague

Chief Boatswain, U.S. Navy

Medal of Honor Recipient

Spanish-American War

Chief Boatswain Daniel Montague (22 October 1867 - 4 February 1912) was a U.S. Navy sailor who received the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during the Spanish-American War.

Daniel Montague was born in Wicklow, Ireland, on 22 October 1867.

Military Career

Daniel Montague enlisted in the Navy during the mid-1890s and served in USS New York (ACR-2) during the Spanish-American War as a Chief Master-at-Arms. He was one of eight volunteer crew members of the collier USS Merrimac, which Rear Admiral William T. Sampson ordered sunk to block the entrance of Santiago Harbor, Cuba. On the night of 2 June 1898, during the attempt to execute this mission, Merrimac's steering gear was disabled by enemy gunfire, and she sank without obstructing navigation. Her crewmen were rescued by the Spanish and made prisoners of war. After the Battle of Santiago de Cuba destroyed the Spanish fleet a month later, Montague and his shipmates were released. For their actions during this operation, all eight men were awarded the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Chief Master-at-Arms, U.S. Navy

Citation: In connection with the sinking of the USS Merrimac at the entrance to the harbor of Santiago de Cuba, 2 June 1898. Despite heavy fire from the Spanish batteries, Montague displayed extraordinary heroism throughout this operation.

Montague was promoted to the warrant officer rank of Boatswain on 15 June 1898, while he was still in Spanish custody. His initial post-war assignment to the training ship Lancaster, lasted from August 1898 to late 1901. He then reported for duty at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD. In June 1903 Boatswain Montague reported on board the battleship USS Wisconsin, serving as Asiatic Station flagship. Montague was promoted to Chief Boatswain in June 1904 and late in that year began service in the old steam sloop USS Mohican station ship at Olongapo, Philippines. In the summer of 1906, he was assigned duty at Naval Station, Pensacola, FL, remaining there until the fall of 1909 when he was transferred to the Philadelphia Naval Yard, PA. His last active assignment, in 1911-1912, was to the cruiser USS Olympia at Norfolk, VA, where she was being prepared for use as a barracks ship.

Death and Burial

Chief Boatswain Daniel Montague died on 4 February 1912. He is buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery, Annapolis, MD, in Lot 275.