Edward Barrett

Edward Barrett (born 1855) was a second class fireman serving in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.

Barrett was born in 1855 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and after joining the navy was stationed aboard the USS Alaska (1868) as a second class fireman. On September 14, 1881 the USS Alaska was in Callao Bay, Peru when a chamber in the ships boiler ruptured. Flames began erupting from beneath the boilers and Barrett began working to extinguish the fires. Eventually the fires where extinguished and the boiler was repaired. For his actions during the fire he received the Medal October 18, 1884.

Rank and organization: Second Class Fireman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1855, Philadelphia, Pa. Accredited to: Pennsylvania. G.O. No.: 326, 18 October 1884.

Citation:

On board the U.S.S. Alaska at Callao Bay, Peru, 14 September 1881. Following the rupture of the stop-valve chamber, Barrett courageously hauled the fires from under the boiler of that vessel.