Born in about 1853 in Ireland, Thayer immigrated to the United States and joined the Navy from Pennsylvania.
On that day, while Constitution was at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia, he rescued a young shipmate from drowning.
For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor five years later, on October 18, 1884.
[2] Thayer's official Medal of Honor citation reads: For rescuing from drowning a boy serving with him on the U.S.S.
[2]He died on April 16, 1883, and was interred at Old Cathedral Cemetery in Philadelphia.