Austin was born on the 26th of November, 1867 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 23 in Maryland. It was his action as a Blacksmith on board the gunship that would earn him the Medal of Honor. The citation reads:

On board the U.S.S. Nashville during the operation of cutting the cable leading from Cienfuegos, Cuba, May 11, 1898. Facing the heavy fire of the enemy, Durney set an example of extraordinary bravery and coolness throughout this action.

Austin Joseph Durney died on the 17th of November, 1926 at the age of 58 and is buried in the Old Saint Joseph Cemetery in Cordova, Maryland.