Customs Inspector

John M. Plunkett

Accident
End of Watch July 2, 1897
Age 27
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Gender Male

Incident

Customs Inspector John Plunkett was killed when a steamer ran into the scow schooner he was aboard.

The schooner was at anchor in San Francisco harbor and Inspector Plunkett was in the pilot house speaking with the captain. When the ships collided, the steamer's bowsprit struck Inspector Pluckett, forcing him through the wall into the engine room. The schooner's captain was injured in the collision.

Inspector Plunkett had served with the United States Customs Service for one year.

Survivors

He was survived by his father.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnr60khbav0p2n7c5dj6
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew John. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

129 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Customs Inspector Plunkett gave the United States Department of the Treasury 1 year.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usdtuscsfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 2, 1897
Tour of Duty 1 yrs
Age 27
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

John is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1897, 14 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 131st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

John was 27. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. John had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service has 94 officers remembered here, John among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Customs Inspector John M. Plunkett

United States Department of the Treasury - United States Customs Service · End of Watch July 2, 1897

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 50-E

↑