A native of Pleyben, France, Tobin joined the U.S. Navy from Brest.
On that day, while the Plymouth was at the Port of Hamburg, Germany, a small boat approached the ship in a strong current.
For this action, both he and Holt were awarded the Medal of Honor a year later, on October 10, 1872.
[1] Tobin's official Medal of Honor citation reads: On board the U.S.S.
Jumping overboard at the imminent risk of his life, Tobin, with a comrade, rescued from drowning one of a party who was thrown from a shore boat into a 4-knot running tide while the boat was coming alongside the ship.