Career
Born in 1851 in Connecticut, Ryan joined the Navy from that state. By March 4, 1876, he was serving as an ordinary seaman on the United States Ship Hartford. On that morning, while Hartford was at Norfolk, Virginia, Landsman James Mullen fell from a gun port into the water.
Mullen, who could not swim, was being swept away by a strong tidal current.
Ryan jumped overboard, swam to the drowning crewman, and kept him afloat until they were rescued by the ship"s launch. Serving on board the United States.S. Hartford, Ryan displayed gallant conduct in jumping overboard at Norfolk, Virginia., and rescuing from drowning one of the crew of that vessel, 4 March 1876.
