Career
Born in 1815 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Todd was still living in that city when he joined the Navy. He served during the Civil War as a quartermaster on the United States Ship Brooklyn. At the Battle of Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864, he acted as his ship"s conning officer and "performed his duties with outstanding skill and courage" despite heavy fire.
Stationed at the conn on board the United States.S. Brooklyn during action against rebel forts and gunboats and with the ram Tennessee in Mobile Bay, 5 August 1864.