Hugh Wilson McKee was born in Lexington, Kentucky on 23 April 1844. Appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy in September 1861, he graduated in June 1866 and served during the next year in the Practice Squadron and on board USS Rhode Island, flagship of the North Atlantic Squadron. In 1867-1869 he was assigned to the steam frigate Franklin and steam sloop of war Ticonderoga, both operating in European waters. McKee was promoted to Ensign in March 1868, Master a year later and Lieutenant in March 1870. As an officer of the steam frigate Colorado he voyaged to the Far East in 1870. On 10 June 1871 Lieutenant McKee went ashore near Inchon, Korea, as part of a landing force tasked with punishing Korean interference with a diplomatic and surveying expedition. During that day and the next the party's Sailors and Marines attacked and captured three fortifications. Late in the morning of 11 June the main citadel on Kang-wa island was assaulted. Lieutenant McKee received mortal wounds during the resulting hand-to-hand combat and died later that afternoon. The captured citadel was renamed Fort McKee in his honor. His body was brought back to the United States and is buried at Lexington, Kentucky.
The Navy has named three ships in honor of Lieutenant Hugh W. McKee, including: USS McKee (Torpedo Boat # 18) of 1898-1920; USS McKee (Destroyer # 87, later DD-87) of 1918-1936; and USS McKee (DD-575) of 1943-1974.
This page features the only views we have concerning Hugh W. McKee.
If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
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Photo #: NH 66327 Lieutenant Hugh W. McKee, USN Photograph taken on board USS Colorado (1858-1885) in June 1871, shortly before his death in combat with Korean forces on 11 June. This a retouched, heavily cropped image taken from the left side of the view seen in Photo # NH 63679. It appears to have been copied from a published source. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 62KB; 600 x 765 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 63679 USS Colorado (1858-1885) Ship's officers, photographed on her deck during the Korean expedition, June 1871. Most of those present are identified in Photo # NH 63679 (complete caption). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 114KB; 740 x 605 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 79942 Korean Expedition, 1871 Halftone reproduction of an artwork, published in "Deeds of Valor," Volume II, page 89, by the Perrien-Keydel Company, Detroit, 1907. This image shows Sailors William F. Lukes, Seth Allen, and Thomas Murphy battling Koreans while trying to rescue the mortally wounded Lieutenant Hugh W. McKee during the capture of the Han River forts, 11 June 1871. Lukes, the only survivor of the U.S. Navy group, received the Medal of Honor for continuing to fight after receiving a head injury. US Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 78KB; 570 x 765 pixels |
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If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions." |
Page made 6 September 2006