Incident
Patrolman Henry Corbett drowned in the North River while attempting to rescue a 14-year-old girl who had just fallen overboard from a barge attached to the steamer "Seth Low." The ship tried to dock the party excursion barge at 152nd Street so the passengers could disembark. Patrolman Corbett was assisting the passengers off the barge when the steamer pulled away from the dock, causing him and several passengers to fall in. Patrolman Corbett"s body was recovered near 96th Street several days later. The girl he was attempting to rescue also drowned. The captain of the "Seth Low" was held on charges of criminal neglect. Patrolman Corbett had served with the Metropolitan Police Force for eight years and was assigned to the 32nd Precinct of the Metropolitan Police Force, an area now covered by the 30th Precinct of the New York City Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
158 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Patrolman Corbett gave the New York Metropolitan Police Force 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the New York community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
New York Metropolitan Police Force has lost 22 officers; 4 of them lost to accidents.
Henry is one of 641 officers lost to accidents in NY, 30.1% of the 2,132 remembered there.
Henry is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Henry is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1868, 1 officer in NY was lost to accidents, the 110th heaviest of 137 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 24.
In 1868, 2 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 159th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1868, 10 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 152nd heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Henry was 38. Of the 575 lost to accidents in NY whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 44; the middle age was 37. Henry had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Henry was 38. 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. Henry had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Henry was 38. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Henry had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 10% of these deaths in NY; October holds the most, 10.3%. Mondays: 13.4%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
July holds 8.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 18.2% of all 22 deaths at New York Metropolitan Police Force, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30.1% of all 2,132 deaths in NY, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
New York Metropolitan Police Force has 22 officers remembered here, Henry among them.
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Thomas Sparks Jul 9, 1857
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Eugene Anderson Jul 20, 1857
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Horatio Sanger Nov 22, 1857
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John Steward Dec 20, 1859
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David Martin Aug 6, 1861
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Henry L. Williams Oct 14, 1862
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Edward Dippel
Jul 19, 1863
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Peter McIntyre Aug 9, 1863
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John T. Van Buren Nov 7, 1863
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John Starkey Jan 20, 1864
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Austin H. Easterbrook Feb 6, 1864
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George W. Duryea
May 16, 1864
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John J. O'Brien Aug 25, 1864
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Charles Curran Oct 6, 1864
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Joseph Nulett Nov 7, 1864
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Thomas Walker Aug 15, 1865
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Robert S. McChesney Oct 19, 1867
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Charles Thompson Dec 1, 1867
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Henry Corbett Jul 13, 1868
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John Smedick Jul 23, 1868
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John A. Branagan Aug 10, 1869
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Phillip Lambreck Mar 14, 1872
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-E
Others Who Wore This Badge
21 officers from New York Metropolitan Police Force are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.

