John Dempsey
Seaman, USS Kearsarge, U.S. Navy. Awarded for actions at Shanghai, China.
January 23, 1875

Born in Ireland in 1848, Dempsey joined the Navy from Massachusetts.
Citation: On board the USS Kearsarge at Shanghai, China, 23 January 1875. Displaying gallant conduct, Dempsey jumped overboard from the Kearsarge and rescued from drowning one of the crew of that vessel.