David Harrington was a fireman first class serving in the United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor for bravery.
Harrington was born April 4, 1856 in Washington, D.C. and after joining the navy from was stationed aboard the USS160Tallapoosa160 as a fireman first class. Just before midnight August 21, 1884 the USS160Tallapoosa collided with the schooner James S. Lowell about five miles from Vineyard Haven, Rhode Island and started to sink. Harrington remained in the fireroom until the fires were put out by the rising waters and when the water was up to his waist he opened the safety valves. For his actions on that night he received the Medal October 18, 1884.
Source: Wikipedia