Percival Clarence Pope (February 28, 1841 – January 22, 1922) was an American officer who served in the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

. He received the

Marine Corps Brevet Medal The Marine Corps Brevet Medal, also known as the Brevet Medal, was a Awards and decorations of the United States military, military decoration of the United States Marine Corps; it was created in 1921 as a result of Marine Corps Order Number 26. T ...

for bravery.

Early life

Pope was born February 28, 1841, at the Charlestown Navy Yard,

Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, and was the son of the Union Navy officer Commodore John Pope.

Military career

When the American Civil War started in 1861, he was only 21 but accepted an appointment in the United States Navy, on board the steam-sloop USS ''Richmond'', which was commanded by his father. While aboard the ''Richmond'', he and the other members of the crew participated in engagements from October 12–13, 1861, while on blockade duty at the Passes of the Mississippi River. He accepted a commission in the Marine Corps in 1861 and served continuously for 44 years, retiring as a

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

in 1905 although he was promoted to brigadier general on the retired list. Although two Marine Corps officers were awarded the Brevet Medal for service during the Civil War, Pope is the only one to receive it because the other recipient, James Forney, died before it could be presented. During the second inaugural parade for President

William McKinley William McKinley (January 29, 1843September 14, 1901) was the 25th president of the United States, serving from 1897 until Assassination of William McKinley, his assassination in 1901. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Repub ...

, Pope commanded a Marine regiment. General Pope was a First Class Companion of the

Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States (MOLLUS), or, simply, the Loyal Legion, is a United States military order organized on April 15, 1865, by three veteran officers of the Union Army. The original membership was consisted ...

. He died at his home in Milton,

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

, January 22, 1922, and is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery,

Dorchester, Massachusetts Dorchester () is a Neighborhoods in Boston, neighborhood comprising more than in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Originally, Dorchester was a separate town, founded by Puritans who emigrated in 1630 from Dorchester, Dorset, E ...

. A complete set of Pope's awards, including his Brevet Medal, are on display at the Navy Memorial Museum in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

His Brevet Medal is the only known original Marine Corps Brevet Medal on public display.

Marine Corps Brevet Medal citation

Pope was given two citations in 1921 for service in the Civil War, one from the

President of the United States The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the Federal government of the United States#Executive branch, executive branch of the Federal government of t ...

and another from the

Secretary of the Navy The Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) is a statutory officer () and the head (chief executive officer) of the Department of the Navy, a military department within the United States Department of Defense. On March 25, 2025, John Phelan was confirm ...

Presidential citation

Citation: :The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Marine Corps Brevet Medal to Percival Clarence Pope, Second Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for gallant and meritorious service in the night attack upon

Fort Sumter Fort Sumter is a historical Coastal defense and fortification#Sea forts, sea fort located near Charleston, South Carolina. Constructed on an artificial island at the entrance of Charleston Harbor in 1829, the fort was built in response to the W ...

, on 2 March 1861, appointed Captain, by brevet, to rank from 8 September 1863.

Secretary of the Navy citation

Citation :The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in transmitting to First Lieutenant Percival Clarence Pope, United States Marine Corps, the Brevet Medal which is awarded in accordance with Marine Corps Order No. 26 (1921), for gallant and meritorious service while serving aboard the U.S.S. ''POWHATAN'' during the night attack upon Fort Sumter, on 2 March 1861. On 8 September 1863 First Lieutenant Pope is appointed Captain, by brevet, to rank from 8 September 1863.

Notes

References

: * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Pope, Percival C. 1841 births 1922 deaths United States Marine Corps officers Union Marines People from Charlestown, Boston People of Massachusetts in the American Civil War American military personnel of the Philippine–American War American military personnel of the Spanish–American War