Martin Conboy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martin Conboy
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| Born | November 11, 1833 County Roscommon, Ireland |
| Died | December 21, 1909 New Jersey |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/ |
 United States Army |
| Years of service | 1861–1863 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Unit |  37th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Williamsburg |
| Awards |  Medal of Honor |
Martin Conboy (1833 – December 21, 1909) was an Irish-born soldier who fought in the American Civil War. Conboy received the United States' highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Williamsburg in Virginia on 5 May 1862. He was honored with the award on 11 October 1892.
Biography
Martin was born in 1833 to Roger Conboy and Sarah Murray in Athleague, County Roscommon, Ireland. After immigrating to New York City in 1860, Martin enlisted in the United States Army in August 1861. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in December 1862.
Martin’s son, Martin Thomas Conboy Jr. a staunch Irish Republican and advocate for Catholic Emancipation in Ireland, went on to become one of the most powerful attorneys in the United States. While little known to the average citizen in Ireland, Martin’s access to power in the US led him to become one of the single most influential Irish Americans working to secure US support for the establishment of the Irish Republic. At various points in his career, he would serve as the US counsel to friend, and eventual president of the Republic of Ireland, Éamon de Valera. His close friend Franklin D. Roosevelt during his time as N.Y. state governor, before being appointed as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Conboy died on 21 December 1909, and his remains were initially interred at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in New Jersey. In 2001 he was reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery.
