Titanic Survivors
The maiden of multi-millionaire Jacob Astor, Madeline inherited from her husband the income from a five million dollar trust fund and the use of his home on Fifth Ave and in the Newport so long as she did not marry. In August 1912, she gave birth to a son with whom she was pregnant on the Titanic, and she named him after her husband, John Jacob Astor. She relinquished the Astor income and mansions during WWI to marry William K. Dick of New York. She had two more sons; she divorced Dick in Reno, Nevada, in 1933 to Marry Italian Prize Fighter Enzo Firemonte. Five Years later, this marriage also ended in divorce. She died in Palm Beach, Florida in 1940 at age 47.
Top 10 Most Notable People on Titanic
This is a list of the 10 most notable people aboard Titanic
1) John Jacob Astor IV
Famous for marrying is his wife Madeleine on September 11th 1911, who at the time was only 18 years old which made her not only 29 years her husband junior and one year younger than John Jacob’s son Vincent. Also he was the richest man aboard the ship, when his body was recovered he had $2440 on him.
2) Margaret Brown (The Unsinkable Molly Brown)
Famous for taking control of lifeboat 6 when the crew in charge of that particular lifeboat refused to go back to look for survivors for fear of being pulled down from the suction of the ship or the people who were in the water swamping the boat.
3) Benjamin Guggenheim
Famous for not only having his mistress, Léontine Aubart (a French singer) with him on the ship but also going to the first class smoking room with his valet and await death like gentleman.
4) Captain Edward John Smith
Famous for being nicknamed the millionaires captain, it became a custom for the company to appoint him to the command of each of their finest ships as it came into operation.
5) Isidor and Ida Straus
Famous for was co-owner of Macy’s department store with his brother and to stay with her husband as they had been together for so long she didn’t want to leave him.
6) Thomas Andrews
Famous for being the designer of Titanic and he was last seen by a steward looking at a painting of Plymouth.
7) Lady Duff Gordon
Famous for being a top fashion designer and was the first English designer to achieve international renown.
8) Lady Countess Rothes (Lucy Noël Martha Dyer- Edwards)
Famous for helping to steer the lifeboat she was in, to safety and was given a plaque from that lifeboat by the crew member in charge, representing the number.
9) Millvina Dean
Famous for being the youngest survivor and last remaining survivor until she died in 2009 aged 97.
10) The Band (Brailey, Bricoux, Hartley, Hume, Krins, Taylor and Woodward)
Famous for being seen as heroes, they played to keep the passengers calm as the ship was sinking.
Titanic Survivors
My mother had a premonition from the very word ‘GO.’ She knew there was something to be afraid of and the only thing that she felt strongly about was that to say a ship was unsinkable was flying in the face of God. Those were her words.”
— Eva Hart, – Titanic survivor
A complete unit of work to teach students about the historical and cultural impact Titanic made upon the world both back in the early 20th century. This complete unit includes.
For a complete list of Titanic Survivors click here. For a great demographic breakdown of survivors of the Titanic click here.
Madeline Astor, Aged 19, was the maiden of the richest man on board.
Madeline Astor
The maiden of multi-millionaire Jacob Astor, Madeline inherited from her husband the income from a five million dollar trust fund and the use of his home on Fifth Ave and in the Newport so long as she did not marry. In August 1912, she gave birth to a son with whom she was pregnant on the Titanic, and she named him after her husband, John Jacob Astor. She relinquished the Astor income and mansions during WWI to marry William K. Dick of New York. She had two more sons; she divorced Dick in Reno, Nevada, in 1933 to Marry Italian Prize Fighter Enzo Firemonte. Five Years later, this marriage also ended in divorce. She died in Palm Beach, Florida in 1940 at age 47.
“As I was put into the boat, he cried to me, ‘It’s all right, little girl. You go. I will stay.’ As our boat shoved off he threw me a kiss, and that was the last I saw of him.”
— Mrs Daniel Warner Marvin – On her honeymoon
The ‘Unsinkable’ Molly Brown
Molly’s life took a surprising turn after the sinking. Previously, her efforts to be accepted by Denver society had been unsuccessful, the Selflessness and heroism she had shown on the Titanic prompted her neighbours, for a short time, to open their doors to her.
In 1924 she was named a potential candidate for Congress. As time passed on, however, she grew increasingly eccentric. Her husband died without leaving a final will and testament, and she found herself at odds with her children over his money.
In 1932, at the age of 65, she died suddenly in New York City after a stroke. It was only after her death when she became the subject of the hit Broadway musical and film, “The unsinkable Molly Brown” That she gained some of the fame she would have so enjoyed in life.
“I was on the whale deck in the bow calling the watch that was to relieve when the ice first came aboard. The collision opened the seams below the water-line but did not even scratch the paint above the line. I know that because I was one of those who helped to make an examination over the side with a lantern. I went down into the engine-room at 12:40am. We even made coffee, so there was not much thought of danger. An hour later I was still working at the light engines. I heard the chief engineer tell one of his subordinates that number six bulkhead had given way. At that time things began to look bad… I was told to go up and see how things were, and made my way up a dummy funnel to the bridge deck. By that time all the boats had left the ship, yet everyone in the engine-room was at his post. I was near the captain and heard him say, ‘Well boys, it’s every man for himself now.’”
— Alfred White – a greaser in the engine-room
“When the Titanic struck the iceberg, I was in bed. However, for whatever reason I was awake and remember the jolt and cessation of motion. A steward knocked on the stateroom door and directed us to get dressed, put on life preservers and go to the boat deck, which we did… The steward as we passed was trying to arouse passengers who had locked themselves in for the night. Elevators were not running. We walked up to the boat deck. Al was calm and orderly. An officer was in charge. ‘Women and children first,’ he said, as he directed lifeboat number 11 to be filled. There were many tearful farewells. We and Uncle Jim said good-bye… The lowering of the lifeboat 70 feet to the sea was perilous. Davits, ropes, nothing worked properly, so that first one end of the lifeboat was tilted up and then far down. I think it was the only time I was scared. Lifeboats pulled some distance away from the sinking Titanic, afraid of what suction might do… As row by row of the porthole lights of the Titanic sank into the sea this was about all one could see. When the Titanic upended to sink, all was blacked out until the tons of machinery crashed to the bow… As this happened hundreds and hundreds of people were thrown into the sea. It isn’t likely I shall ever forget the screams of these people as they perished in water said to be 28 degrees… At this point in my life I was being brought up as a typical British kid. You were not allowed to cry. You were a ‘little man.’ So as a cool kid I lay down in the bottom of the lifeboat and went to sleep. When I awoke it was broad daylight as we approached the Carpathia. Looking around over the gunwale it seemed to me like the Arctic. Icebergs of huge size ringed the horizon for 360 degrees.”
— Marshall Drew Eight-year-old travelling with his Aunt and Uncle
“When our boat had rowed about half a mile from the vessel the spectacle was quite fairylike, The Titanic, which was fully illuminated, was stationary, like some fantastic piece of stage scenery. The night was clear and the sea smooth, but it was intensely cold. Presently the gigantic ship began to sink by the bows, and then those who had remained on board realized the horror of their situation. Suddenly the lights went out and an immense clamor filled the air in one supreme cry for help. Little by little the Titanic settled down, and for three hours cries of anguish were heard. As moments the cries of terror were lulled and we thought it was all over, but the next instant they were renewed in still keener accents. As for is we did nothing but row, row, row to escape from the death cries. In our little boat we were frozen with cold, having left the ship without overcoats or rugs. We shouted from time to time to attract attention, but obtained no reply. A German baron who was with us fired off all the cartridges in his revolver. This agonizing suspense lasted for many hours until at last the Carpathia appeared. We shouted ‘Hurrah!’ and all the boats scattered on the sea made towards her.”
— Paul Chevre – French Sculpture
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