Francis Marion Cunningham (December 12, 1837 – May 11, 1919) was a United States' soldier and native of Pennsylvania who fought with Company H of the 1st West Virginia Cavalry during the American Civil War.

Cunningham received his nation's highest award for bravery during combat, the U.S. Medal of Honor, for his action during the Battle of Sailor's Creek in Virginia on April 6, 1865.

[7] Francis Cunningham became one of Pennsylvania's early responders to President Abraham Lincoln's call for 75,000 volunteers to help preserve America's union when he enlisted for Civil War military service during the United States summer of 1861.

After enrolling at Springfield, Pennsylvania on July 25, he then officially mustered in for duty with Company H of the 1st West Virginia Cavalry.

"I groped about with my eyes blinded with the smoke and fortunately bumped squarely into a phlegmatic mule with a Confederate saddle on.... "I mounted him and hurried back through the woods to the clearing, where our forces were rallying.... "Just as I reached the rallying troops the bugle sounded 'Charge' again and back we went at those breastworks over stumps and through drooping branches.

[8] Following his honorable discharge from the military, Cunningham returned to his home in Ohiopyle, Stewart Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, where he continued to reside with his wife until her death in 1915.

[14] Four years later, he developed tetanus after stepping on a rusty nail while making improvements to an aging structure in Stewart Township.

Following funeral services on May 14, he was laid to rest beside his wife at the Sugar Grove Cemetery in Ohiopyle, Fayette County, Pennsylvania.

Francis M. Cunningham was buried with honors of war yesterday afternoon from the Baptist church at Ohiopyle, with the William F. Kurtz Post, No.