Healy, Michael A. (Michael Augustine), 1839-1904

Biography

Captain Michael Healy (1839-1904), commander of the Revenue Cutters "Corwin" and "Bear" was the presence of the law off the coast of Alaska in the late 19th century. Although his primary function was to prevent the contraband sale of guns and alcohol to the natives and to control the illegal slaughter of seals, he was acclaimed for his fearless efforts to save the lives of seamen marooned in the Arctic. He was also concerned for the Eskimos, whose food supply was being depleted by the decreasing number of seals and walrus. Together with the missionary Sheldon Jackson, he initiated a plan to bring Siberian reindeer into Alaska. Healy bargained with the Siberian tribesmen for purchase of the animals, then ferried the shiploads of reindeer across the Bering Straits to establish the herds.

Healy was born in Georgia, the son of an Irish father and a mulatto slave mother. He and his brothers were sent north for education and freedom. His brothers distinguished themselves academically, one becoming President of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., another the Bishop of Portland (Maine), but Michael ran away from schools in Massachussetts, Montreal, and Paris to go to sea at age 15. In 1865 he applied for a position in the U. S. Revenue Service, the precursor of the Coast Guard, and in the same year he married Mary Jane Roach (1835-1907) of Boston.

Healy served in many areas, including Sitka, but his Arctic command began in 1880 with the steamer "Corwin" and continued from 1886 to 1896 with the famed ship "Bear" that had earlier rescued the survivors of the Greely Expedition off Greenland and years later was to be selected by Admiral Byrd to go to Antarctica.

It was ironic that after the many years of praiseworthy service to all in the North and after years of controlling the illegal liquor traffic, that Healy should be charged with being drunk on duty, brought up for court martial, and relieved of his command. Eventually, however, before he died in 1904, he was given another command and restored to his position as 7th ranking captain in the service.