Joseph K. Corson
Joseph Kirby Corson was an American military officer who served in the Union army as an assistant surgeon during the American Civil War. He received the country's highest award for bravery during combat, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during the Battle of Bristoe Station on 14 October 1863. He was honored with the award on 13 May 1899.
Early life and education
Corson was born in Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania, on 22 November 1836, the second of nine children of Hiram and Ann Jones Foulke Corson. His father was a doctor and provided a tutor for Corson's education before he entered Treemount Seminary in nearby Norristown. He moved to Philadelphia in 1856 and worked as an apprentice at a drugstore. He attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and graduated with a PhG in 1858. Corson moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, to work with a pharmacist, but the business failed and Corson returned to Norristown to partner in a cousin's lime business. He enrolled at the medical school of the University of Pennsylvania.American Civil War
Corson left school at the beginning of the American Civil War when President Abraham Lincoln requested 90-day volunteers. He enlisted in Company K of the 4th Pennsylvania Infantry as a corporal and served from April 20, 1861, to July 26, 1861. He was discharged at the rank of sergeant and re-entered the University of Pennsylvania medical school and served as a medical cadet at the army hospital on Cherry and Broad Streets from January 1862 to March 1863.After graduation from medical school in March 1863, he enlisted in the 6th Pennsylvania Reserves as an assistant surgeon. He participated in the Battles of Gettysburg, Falling Waters, Manassas Gap, Bristoe Station, Mine Run, Rappahannock Station, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, and Bethesda Church.
He was brevetted major for distinguishing himself during the Battle of the Wilderness. At Bristoe Station on 14 October, Corson and a hospital attendant rescued a severely wounded soldier left between the lines while under Confederate artillery fire. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor on 13 May 1899. In November 1864, he became medical officer at Camp Discharge, used to muster out soldiers, in Philadelphia.
Post war career
After the end of the war, Corson mustered out in May 1865 and returned to Plymouth Meeting to join his father's practice. He joined the United States Army as assistant surgeon on October 9, 1867, at the rank of first lieutenant. He was stationed at Army bases in Alabama, Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Texas, and Wyoming. He served as assistant surgeon on the survey of the Sierra Nevada mountain range led by Clarence King. Corson Peak in Utah was named in his honor.A Yavapai quiver he collected during his service in the Western United States was purchased by George Gustav Heye and is part of the collection at the National Museum of the American Indian. While stationed in Wyoming, he became interested in fossil hunting and discovered fossils of Eocene mammals that were given to Professor Joseph Leidy at the University of Pennsylvania.
He was promoted to major on November 14, 1888, and retired in November 1897.
He was a member of the Pennsylvania Commandery Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States.
He died on 24 July 1913, at his home in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, from heart disease. He was interred at West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bryn Mawr section, Lot 98, in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.