During the construction of the RMS Titanic, the world was abuzz about this luxury British steamship. Some parts of the ship were like a floating palace, with a grand staircase, ornate woodworking, and décor to rival the finest chateaus of Europe. Other parts of the passenger liner were more utilitarian, for the second- and third-class passengers that could book passage on the ship, albeit far away from the rich and famous.
The Titanic leaving Southampton in a colorized photo that is part of Thomas Schmid's 'Titanic In Color' project at 3dhistory.de
Although the Titanic had a passenger list that included people from nearly every socioeconomic group, when tragedy struck, it didn’t matter how much money one had. When the luxury liner struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic on April 15, 1912, during its maiden voyage, it took more than 1,500 people with it to a watery grave. Statistically, only about 20% of the male passengers on the Titanic survived, while more than 74% women survived. Here is an overview of the people we lost in the sinking of the Titanic.
John Jacob Astor
A replica of one of Titanic's first class rooms. (ultimatetitanic.com)
One of the wealthiest men in the world, John Jacob Astor was the richest man on the Titanic. He and his prominent family were behind the construction of the opulent Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Aside from being a wealthy heir and successful businessman, Astor was a military veteran, a writer, and an inventor. He was also the source of scandal and gossip. Shortly before he died on the Titanic, Astor, who was 47 years old, divorced his wife and married an 18-year-old woman named Madeleine Talmage Force. She was pregnant with Astor’s child when the couple were touring Europe. Astor was determined to have his child born on U.S. soil, so he booked passage for him and his bride on the Titanic. Madeleine survived the sinking, but Astor did not. The last sighting of Astor was of him clinging to the side of a life raft in the frigid water.
Benjamin Guggenheim
The Titanic's dining room. (gbacg.org)
A member of the same Guggenheim family that founded the famous museum in New York City, Benjamin Guggenheim amassed a fortune in the mining industry. Joining him on the Titanic were his servants and his mistress, Leontine Aubert. According to reports, Guggenheim was certain that the damage to the Titanic was superficial and would be repaired quickly. He allegedly told his maid, “It’s just a repair. Tomorrow the Titanic will go on again.” Guggenheim took impending death with a dose of humor. As the ship was going down, he reportedly put a rose in his lapel and told his companions, “We are dressed in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen.”
Thomas Andrews
Andrews designed the luxury liner. (ultimatetitanic.com)
Thomas Andrews was the architect of the Titanic and he wanted to join its maiden voyage to witness how the passengers received the luxury liner he created. According to reports, Andrews realized right away that the Titanic was in serious trouble and doomed to plunge to the bottom of the sea. Andrews worked to get women and children safely to lifeboats. The last sighting of Andrews was of him throwing deck chairs and other items overboard so the people in the water could hold on to them.
W. T. Stead
The first class passengers' reading room on the Titanic. (titanic.fandom.com)
As the editor of the Pall Mall Gazette, W. T. Stead was a well-known and influential journalist and writer. His investigative series about child prostitution has been called the origins of investigative reporting. Ironically, Stead published a fictional novel in 1886 called How the Mail Steamer Went Down in Mid Atlantic, by a Survivor, a story about the sinking of an ocean liner which killed the majority of the passengers because there was a shortage of lifeboats – a story that bears an eerie similarity to the sinking of the Titanic. When it became apparent that there was no saving the Titanic from its fate, Stead left the deck. He reportedly returned to his cabin and spent his final moments reading.
Isidor and Ida Straus
The main deck of the Titanic, as depicted in the James Cameron film. (popsugar.com)
The co-owner of Macy’s department store, Isidor Straus and his wife Ida began their lives together penniless. Isidor and his brother proved to be shrewd businessmen. The brothers acquired Macy’s department store and built it into a cultural icon. Isidor Straus served in the House of Representatives as well. When the Titanic was going down, according to reports, Ida Straus refused to leave her husband’s side. Ida gave her seat in a lifeboat to her maid. She then gave the maid her mink coat to keep her warm, noting that she wouldn’t need it where she was going. Isidor Straus, too, was offered a seat on a lifeboat, but he refused to take it. He said he would only get on a lifeboat after he was sure every woman and child had been evacuated from the ship.
George Dennick Wick
The Titanic even had a gym. (catawiki.com)
The founding president of Youngstown Sheet and Tube Company, George Dennick Wick had earned a fortune in the steel business, but he suffered from poor health. At the suggestion of his doctor, he traveled to Europe to improve his health. His wife, daughter, aunt, and cousin last saw him waving goodbye to them as their lifeboat rowed away from the sinking luxury liner.
Henry B. Harris
The Titanic's grand staircase. (unrealengine.com)
The voyage on the Titanic was ill-fated from the start for famed Broadway producer Henry B. Harris and his wife, Renee. Renee had taken a tumble down the Titanic’s grand staircase and broke her arm. Harris lifted Renee and tossed her into the waiting arms of a sailor in one of the lifeboats. He then threw her a blanket. It was the last time she ever saw him again. Despite her injury and the loss of her husband, Renee Harris went on to break glass ceilings. She took over her husband’s job and became the United States’ first female theatre producer.
The image at the top of this post was colorized by Thomas Schmid, as part of his Titanic in Color project. You can see more at 3dhistory.de.
