Captain Rostron was born in Sharples Park, Astley Bridge, which at that time was a separate township to the north of Bolton. For some of his boyhood he lived at 309 (now 711) Blackburn Road, Astley Bridge.His education included three schools: 1) St Paul's Church of England School, Astley Bridge; 2) Bolton Grammar School (now Bolton School) 1881-3; 3) Bolton Church Institute School (now Canon Slade School) from January to December 1884.He was 15 years and seven months old when he finished his education and it was after this that he began his cadet training. In his book, "Home From The Sea", he tells of donning his cadet uniform, going to the Bolton railway station to board the train to Liverpool and being waved off by all his classmates. These boys and girls must have been the pupls he was with at the Bolton Church Institute.The Congressional Medal of Honor is awarded only to serving members of the United States armed forces. President Taft gave Captain Rostron the Congressional Gold Medal, which is “awarded to an individual who performs an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States”.