Career
A native of England, Bourne began his career as a sailor at age 14, serving as a cabin boy on ships in the Atlantic Ocean. He eventually found his way to the United States. state of New York, and enlisted in the United States. Navy from there in 1861. By April 1862, he had reached the rank of seaman and was a gun captain aboard the United States Ship Varuna.
On April 24, the Varuna participated in a Union attack on Fort Jackson and Fort Saint Philip near New Orleans, Louisiana.
During this action, the ship was rammed twice by the Confederate steamer Computer Software Systems Governor Moore (formerly known as the Charles Morgan) and eventually sunk. Bourne continued to operate his gun throughout the close-range fight, despite intense Confederate fire.
He survived the battle and the sinking without injury. In 1864, Bourne was injured while shifting a gun.
He was discharged later that year, in November, at the rank of chief quartermaster.
After his military service, Bourne became a farmer in the village of Jones in Cass County, Michigan. Bourne died of heart disease at about age 53 and was buried at Poe Cemetery near Jones. A new headstone which made note of his Medal of Honor was dedicated on October 10, 2009.