Below is a list of recipients of the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor bestowed by the United States Congress.
Recipients of Continental Congress Gold Medals Recipient(s) Date of approval Public law Notes Medal George Washington March 25, 1776 Continental Congress Awarded to Washington "and the officers and soldiers under his command" in honor of the liberation of Boston, first major city liberated from British occupation. Later led the Continental Army to victory in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). Presented to Washington March 21, 1790 and currently resides at the Boston Public Library.See also: Washington Before Boston Medal Major General Horatio Gates November 4, 1777 Continental Congress Victor in Saratoga campaign. The medal is currently in the possession of the New York Historical Society. Major General Anthony Wayne July 26, 1779 Continental Congress Commander at the Battle of Stony Point. The medal is currently in the possession of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution. Major Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee September 24, 1779 Continental Congress Commander at the Battle of Paulus Hook. Only non-general to receive a gold medal during the American Revolutionary War Brigadier General Daniel Morgan March 9, 1781 Continental Congress Commander at the Battle of Cowpens. In 1836 Congress (5 Stat. 66) authorized a duplicate be struck to replace the lost original, and be presented to Morgan Neville, his lineal heir Major General Nathanael Greene October 29, 1781 Continental Congress Commander at the Battle of Eutaw Springs Captain John Paul Jones October 16, 1787 Continental Congress "For his 'valor and brilliant services' during the Battle of Flamborough Head eight years earlier. Jones became the first and only Continental Navy officer to receive this distinction for his service during the American Revolution."
Recipients of Congressional Gold Medals
Recipient(s) Date of approval Public law Notes Medal Captain Thomas Truxtun March 29, 1800 2 Stat. 87 Commander of the during the battle against the French frigate La Vengeance Commodore Edward Preble March 3, 1805 2 Stat. 346–347 For 1804 attacks on Tripoli during the First Barbary War Captain Isaac HullCaptain Stephen DecaturCaptain Jacob Jones January 29, 1813 2 Stat. 830 For action against the Guerriere, Macedonian, and Frolic during the War of 1812. Silver duplicates awarded to their commissioned officers on board. Captain William Bainbridge March 3, 1813 2 Stat. 831 Commander of the during her capture of HMS Java. Silver duplicates awarded to his commissioned officers on board. The medal is currently possessed by the USS Constitution Museum. Captain Oliver Hazard PerryCaptain Jesse D. Elliott January 6, 1814 3 Stat. 141 Victors of the Battle of Lake Erie. Silver medals authorized for their commissioned officers on board. Lieutenant William W. Burrows II and Lieutenant Edward McCall January 6, 1814 3 Stat. 141–142 For capture of HMS Boxer; awarded posthumously to Burrows, who was killed in action. Silver duplicates awarded to his commissioned officers on board. Captain James Lawrence January 11, 1814 3 Stat. 142 Awarded posthumously for capture of HMS Peacock. Silver medals awarded to his commissioned officers on board. Captain Thomas MacdonoughCaptain Robert HenleyLieutenant Stephen Cassin October 20, 1814 3 Stat. 245–246 Heroes of Battle of Plattsburgh Captain Lewis Warrington October 21, 1814 3 Stat. 246 For capture of HMS Epervier. Silver duplicates awarded to his commissioned officers on board. Captain Johnston Blakeley November 3, 1814 3 Stat. 246–247 For capture of HMS Reindeer. Silver duplicates awarded to his commissioned officers on board. Major General Jacob Brown November 3, 1814 3 Stat. 247 Commander at the Battles of Chippawa, Niagara, and Erie Major General Winfield Scott November 3, 1814March 9, 1848 3 Stat. 2479 Stat. 333 For actions at the battles of Chippawa and Niagara (War of 1812)For actions during the Siege of Veracruz (Mexican–American War) Major General Peter Buell PorterBrigadier General Eleazar RipleyColonel James Miller November 3, 1814 3 Stat. 247 For their actions at the battles of Chippawa, Niagara, and Erie Major General Edmund P. Gaines November 3, 1814 3 Stat. 247 For his actions on 15 August 1814 at the Battle of Erie (now known as the Siege of Fort Erie) Major General Alexander Macomb November 3, 1814 3 Stat. 247 For his actions on 11 September 1814 at The Battle of Plattsburgh Major General Andrew Jackson February 27, 1815 3 Stat. 249 For the defense of New Orleans in the War of 1812 Captain Charles Stewart February 22, 1816 3 Stat. 341 For the capture of HMS Cyane and HMS Levant. Silver medals awarded to his commissioned officers on board. Captain James Biddle February 22, 1816 3 Stat. 341 For the capture of HMS Penguin. Silver medals awarded to his commissioned officers on board. Major General William Henry Harrison andGovernor Isaac Shelby April 4, 1818 3 Stat. 476 Victors of the Battle of the Thames Colonel George Croghan February 13, 1835 4 Stat. 792 For the defense of Fort Stephenson Major General Zachary Taylor July 16, 1846March 2, 1847May 9, 1848 9 Stat. 1119 Stat. 2069 Stat. 334–335 For distinguished achievements during military operations along the Rio GrandeFor meritorious achievements at the Battle of MonterreyFor valor at the Battle of Buena VistaOnly individual to be awarded three times, all for his Mexican–American War accomplishments Rescuers of the Officers and Crew of the U.S. Brig Somers March 3, 1847 9 Stat. 208 Awarded to officers and men of French, British, and Spanish ships who rescued officers and men of the Somers during the Mexican–American War. Commander Duncan Ingraham August 4, 1854 10 Stat. 594–595 For his role in the Koszta Affair Frederick Rose (surgeon) May 11, 1858 11 Stat. 369 For caring for, and traveling with, the sailors on his ship suffering from yellow fever. Major General Ulysses S. Grant December 17, 1863 13 Stat. 399 For gallantry and good conduct of himself and his troops in battles of the rebellion. The medal is currently possessed by the Smithsonian. Cornelius Vanderbilt January 28, 1864 13 Stat. 401 For donating his steamship Vanderbilt to the Union. The medal was donated to Vanderbilt University by Cornelius Vanderbilt's great-great-great grandson William H. Vanderbilt IV in 2022. Captain Robert CreightonCaptain Edwin J. LowCaptain George C. Stouffer July 26, 1866 14 Stat. 365–366 For rescuing "about 500" Americans from the wreck of the steamship San Francisco Cyrus West Field March 2, 1867 14 Stat. 574 For establishing the first Transatlantic telegraph cable George Peabody March 16, 1867 15 Stat. 20 For giving $2,000,000 for the promotion of education in the more destitute portions of the southern and southwestern States. George F. Robinson March 1, 1871 16 Stat. 704 For actions to protect William H. Seward during an assassination attempt and save his life afterwards. Captain Jared Crandall and Others February 24, 1873 17 Stat. 638 For rescue operations involving the steamer Metis. Statute does not specifically call for gold medals to the ten individuals cited (including Crandall), instead leaves it to the discretion of the President. Unclear if any were gold. John Horn Jr. June 20, 1874April 28, 1904 18 Stat. 57333 Stat. 1684–1685 Noted lifesaver. 1904 medal was a re-issue of the earlier award, which Horn claimed had been stolen. Customarily, the Secretary of the Treasury had issued duplicate medals upon the submission of absolute proof that showed the originals had been irrecoverably lost or destroyed. Since such proof was absent in Horn's case, congressional approval was necessary before the medal could be replaced. John Fox Slater February 5, 1883 22 Stat. 636 United States philanthropist known for assisting in the education of emancipated African American slaves. Joseph Francis August 27, 1888 25 Stat. 1249 Inventor of life-saving tools. The medal is currently possessed by the Smithsonian. Chief Engineer George Wallace Melville and Others September 30, 1890 26 Stat. 552–553 To commemorate the perils encountered during the Jeannette Expedition. 8 gold and 25 silver medals were struck, in decoration form, suspended from a ribbon. First Lieutenant Frank H. Newcomb May 3, 1900 31 Stat. 716 For heroism as commanding officer of USRC Hudson during the Battle of Cardenas, 1898. The officers and men of Hudson received silver and bronze versions of the gold medal. First Lieutenant David H. Jarvis, Second Lieutenant Ellsworth P. Bertholf and Dr. Samuel J. Call June 28, 1902 32 Stat. 492 Participants in the Overland Relief Expedition of 1897–98 Orville and Wilbur Wright March 4, 1909 35 Stat. 1627 In recognition of their invention of the airplane and contributions to aerial navigation. Captain Arthur Henry Rostron July 6, 1912 37 Stat. 639 Captain of the who rescued the survivors of the sunken at considerable risk to his own ship. Captain Paul H. Kreibohm and others March 19, 1914 38 Stat. 769 For participation in the rescue of passengers and crew of the SS Volturno Domício da Gama, Rómulo Sebastián Naón, and Eduardo Suárez Mujica March 4, 1915 38 Stat. 1228 In recognition of the valuable services of these distinguished statesmen as mediators in the controversy between the government of the United States of America and the leaders of the warring parties in the Republic of Mexico. Charles Lindbergh May 4, 1928 45 Stat. 490 In recognition of his contributions to aerial navigation by flying solo non-stop from New York to Paris. Lincoln Ellsworth, Roald Amundsen, and Umberto Nobile May 29, 1928 45 Stat. 2026–2027 In recognition of their contributions to polar exploration. Thomas Edison May 29, 1928 45 Stat. 1012 For development and application of inventions that revolutionized civilizations. First Successful Trans-Atlantic Flight February 9, 1929 45 Stat. 1158 See also: NC-4 Medal Major Walter Reed and Associates for Yellow Fever Experimentations in Cuba February 28, 1929 45 Stat. 1409–1410 For contributions to discovering the transmission of Yellow fever from mosquitos.