Career
Born in 1840 in New York, Lakin joined the Navy from that state. By November 1874, he was serving as a seaman on the United States Ship Narragansett. During that month, while Narragansett was at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California, he jumped overboard and rescued two shipmates from drowning.
Serving on board the United States.S. Narragansett at the Navy Yard, Mare Island, California, November 1874, jumping overboard, Lakin displayed gallant conduct by rescuing 2 men of that ship from drowning.