{{about|the American Medal of Honor recipient|the American businessman|William L. MacKnight|the Canadian politician|Bill McKnight}} {{Infobox military person |name=William McKnight |birth_date= {{Birth date|1842|5|3}} |death_date= {{Death date and age|1914|11|4|1842|5|3}} |birth_place=Ulster County, New York, US |death_place= |burial_place= |burial_label= Place of burial |image= William McKnight (MOH) framed.jpg |caption=Coxswain William McKnight |nickname= |allegiance= United States of America<br/>Union |branch= United States Navy<br/>Union Navy |service_years= |rank=Master's mate |commands= |unit= {{USS|Varuna|1861|6}} |battles=American Civil War<br/>*Battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip |awards=Medal of Honor |other_work= }} '''William McKnight''' (May 3, 1842 – November 4, 1914) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of America's highest military decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the American Civil War.
==Early life== William Henry McKnight was born on May 3, 1842, in Ulster County, New York.<ref>https://navylog.navymemorial.org/mcknight-william-5</ref>
== Wartime Service == During the Civil War, William McKnight served in the U.S. Navy as a Coxswain. On April 24, 1862, as a gun captain on board {{USS|Varuna|1861}}, he participated in combat against Confederate ships as the Federal fleet fought its way past the fortifications protecting the approaches to New Orleans, Louisiana. For his conduct during this event, Coxswain McKnight was awarded the Medal of Honor.
==Medal of Honor citation== 80px|left
'''Rank and Organization:''' :Coxswain, U.S. Navy. Born: 1842 Ulster County, N.Y. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 11, 3 April 1863.
'''Citation:''' <blockquote>Captain of a gun on board the U.S.S. ''Varuna'' during the attacks on Forts Jackson and St. Philip and in action against the rebel ship {{Ship|CSS|Governor Moore}}, 24 April 1862. During this action at extremely close range, while his ship was under furious fire and was twice rammed by the rebel ship ''Morgan'', McKnight remained steadfast at his gun throughout the thickest of the fight and was instrumental in inflicting damage on the enemy until the ''Varuna'', so badly damaged that she was forced to beach, was finally sunk.<ref name=AMOHW> {{Cite web |publisher = American Civil War website |title = McKNIGHT, WILLIAM, Civil War Medal of Honor recipient |date = 2007-11-08 |url = http://americancivilwar.com/medal_of_honor6.html |accessdate = 2007-11-08}}</ref></blockquote> {{clear}}
==See also== {{Portal|Biography|American Civil War}} *List of American Civil War Medal of Honor recipients: M–P
==Notes== {{Reflist}}
==References== :{{NHC}} *{{Cite web |publisher = Naval History & Heritage Command |title = US People - McKnight, William |work = Online Library |date = 2001-11-30 |url = http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-m/w-mckngt.htm |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020209194016/http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-m/w-mckngt.htm |url-status = dead |archive-date = February 9, 2002 |accessdate = 2006-11-06}} *{{Cite web |publisher = United States Army Center of Military History |title = Civil War Medal of Honor recipients (M-Z) |work = Medal of Honor citations |date = August 3, 2009 |url = http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwarmz.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071214025502/http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/civwarmz.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = December 14, 2007 |accessdate = July 1, 2010}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McKnight, William}} Category:United States Navy Medal of Honor recipients Category:Union navy sailors Category:1842 births Category:1914 deaths Category:Burials at Green-Wood Cemetery Category:American Civil War recipients of the Medal of Honor