Passenger
Stories
Learn about the real captivating stories of Titanic’s passengers and crew told through their genuine personal items, preserved for over a century. Some of Titanic’s most notable passengers and crew are highlighted below.
Dorothy
Gibson
Titanic drew people from all walks of life, including silent film star Dorothy Gibson who, at the time, was one of the highest paid actresses in the world. Immediately following the tragedy, Dorothy Gibson starred as herself in the film “Saved from the Titanic” which was released barely a month after the sinking.
Frederick
Fleet, Crew: Lookout
By 1912, Fleet had eight years of experience at sea. Fleet and Reginald Lee were on lookout duty on Titanic’s 10 p.m. to midnight watch on April 14, 1912. Fleet received repeated instructions to keep very alert for icebergs and eventually sounded the iceberg warning before impact. He was able to assist in loading and join Lifeboat 6 and in time, testified at both the American and British inquiries.
Captain
Smith
From his humble origins as a potter’s son, Edward John (EJ) Smith, 62, had steadily climbed the ranks within White Star Line to become honorary Commodore of the White Star Fleet in 1904. Captain Smith was planning to retire in 1911, but White Star Line convinced him to stay to oversee Titanic’s first transatlantic crossing.
Major Archibald
Butt
Major Archibald Butt was a prominent American military officer and diplomat who served as a trusted aide to two U.S. presidents, Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. Despite the chaos and danger, Major Butt worked tirelessly to help organize the evacuation of passengers and crew.
Joseph Bruce
Ismay
J. Bruce became head of White Star following his father’s death in 1899, and the company flourished under his directorship. Ismay entered into an agreement with the shipbuilding firm Harland & Wolff to design three of the largest and most luxurious Ships in the world (the Olympic Class liners), one of which became Titanic.
Thomas
Andrews
As the Chief Naval Architect on Titanic, Thomas Andrews was responsible for the thousands of plans that became the iconic Ship. His designs stressed both progress and tradition, incorporating new technologies with proven equipment for support.
Duff
Gordon
Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon, 49, was the fifth baronet of Halkin in the county of Aberdeen, Scotland. In addition to his great wealth and many investments, Duff Gordon was also a proficient fencer; he represented Great Britain at the 1906 Summer Olympics.
Father
Browne
Very few photos of Titanic’s interiors are in existence, but most that do exist can be attributed to a budding Irish photographer named Francis Browne. Fortunately for him, he was not traveling the full voyage, and disembarked in Ireland. He captured some of the world’s most famous peeks into life on Titanic that are still heavily circulated today.
John Jacob
Astor IV
A prominent American businessman, investor, inventor, writer, and manager of the Astor Family fortune. Following a divorce from his wife, Astor married 18-year-old Madeleine Force, and after a short honeymoon, the pair decided to return to America on Titanic after discovering Madeleine’s pregnancy.
Madeleine
Astor (Force)
A survivor of the tragedy, Madeleine Force came from a wealthy family. She excelled in school and was described as brilliant. John J. Astor was immediately smitten upon their meeting, and the couple married in 1910. She passed away in 1940 at the age of 47–the same age that her first husband, John J. Astor, tragically died on Titanic.
Ruth Elizabeth
Becker
Ruth was only 12 years old when she boarded Titanic with her mother, sister, and brother. The family was separated in different lifeboats and reunited on the Carpathia. Ruth’s family was one of the few who came out of the tragedy without losing a loved one. Ruth avoided talking about Titanic until the 1970s, giving interviews and reconnecting with other survivors later in her life.
