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Police Officer

Jacob Albright

Philadelphia Police Department — Philadelphia, PA
Accident
United States flag Pennsylvania flag
End of Watch December 25, 1853
Age 49
The Vigil Panel 1 ›
Gender Male
Incident Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 378

Incident

Police Officer Jacob Albright was killed when he was caught in the second collapse of a double four-storied brick building on North Third Street between Callowhill Street and Wood Street.

He and another officer were attempting to rescue Officer Hiram Hammer who was caught in the first collapse of the building while attempting to rescue civilians who were caught in the fire. During the attempted rescue they were caught in the second collapse of the building. As a result, a large piece of burning timber fell on top of Officer Albright's legs pinning him.

Once Officer Albright was rescued he was taken to his residence on Duke Street (present-day Thompson Street) and was treated by doctors. He succumbed to his injuries at his home four days later. Officer Hammer's body was discovered the next morning after the fire.

Officer Albright was assigned to the Northern Liberties Division.

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

173 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Police Officer Albright served with the Philadelphia Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Department Philadelphia Police Department
Type Police Department
Location Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA
Platform Identity ppd.philadelphia.pa.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 25, 1853
Age 49
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Cause Detail Fire

The Sacrifice · Accident

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

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1853, 3 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 150th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Jacob was 49. 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.

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

When

December holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.

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

Philadelphia Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Jacob among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Jacob Albright

Philadelphia Police Department · End of Watch December 25, 1853

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 45-W

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