Stanton was born on August 11, 1869, in Ireland and, after immigrating to the United States, he joined the Navy from New York around 1898.

[2] On that day, while the North Dakota was conducting tests using oil as fuel, an explosion occurred, killing three sailors and endangering the ship.

After ensuring the safety of the ship, they then searched for and removed the bodies of the three sailors killed in the initial explosion.

[2] Stanton died May 7, 1950, at age 80 and was buried at Saint Columba Catholic Cemetery in Middletown, Rhode Island.

[4] Stanton's official Medal of Honor citation reads: For extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the fire on board the U.S.S.