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, Lancashire, England in April 1836 and emigrated to the United States of America with his parents (William and Margaret) from the port of Liverpool, Lancashire, England to New York, United States arriving 31 March 1842 on board the Ship 'Siberia' (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.

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, United States of America. Luther served in the U.S. Military (Army) from 1866 to 1875. He was a 2nd then 1st Lt. in the 4th Infantry Regiment.

From the Boston Daily Globe - 31 May 1921

''Funeral this Morning of Lieut. Luther M. LONGSHAW''

''The funeral of Lieut. Luther M. LONGSHAW late of Co. C 4th United States Infantry, the son of the late Dr. and Mrs. William LONGSHAW of Cambridge who died last Friday at Baltimore, will be held at 11 o' clock this morning at Woodlawn Cemetery.''

''Lieut. LONGSHAW was a member of the Bar of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, though he retired from the practice of law several years ago.

William LONGSHAW applied to the United States Military Academy, New York, in a letter dated 22 February 1853 [Ref:- 1853/168 West Point Academy], he stated he would be 17 years old next April (1853) - his application was accepted.

He studied pharmacology at Tulane University (then named the University of Louisiana) 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, S.C., 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 Adm. 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.

Dr. William LONGSHAW Jnr. (1836 - 1865) is buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States of America.

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