| Captain Edward John Smith | |
 Photo of Captain Edward Smith from 1912 book, Wreck and Sinking of the Titanic by Marshall Everett
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| Born | 27 January 1850 Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom |
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| Died | 15 April 1912 (aged 62) Atlantic Ocean |
| Occupation | Ship captain |
| Spouse | Sarah Eleanor Pennington |
| Children | Helen Melville Smith |
| Parents | Edward Smith Catherine Hancock |
Captain Edward John Smith, RD, RNR (27 January 1850 – 15 April 1912)[1] was the captain of the RMS Titanic when it sank in 1912. The Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve ( RD) is a medal awarded in the Royal Naval Reserve of the United Kingdom to officers who have spent Events 98 - Trajan becomes Roman Emperor after the death of Nerva. For the game see 1850 (board game. 1850 ( MDCCCL) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting Construction The Titanic was a White Star Line ocean liner built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Ireland He and his wife had a daughter named Helen Melville Smith. There is a statue to his legacy in Lichfield, England. A statue is a Sculpture in the round representing a person or persons an animal or an event normally full-length as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size Lichfield is a city and Civil parish in Staffordshire, England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland [2]
Contents |
Biography
Personal life
Edward John Smith was born on 27 January 1850 in the town of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. Events 98 - Trajan becomes Roman Emperor after the death of Nerva. For the game see 1850 (board game. 1850 ( MDCCCL) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link Stoke-on-Trent ( often abbreviated to Stoke) is a city in Staffordshire, England which forms a linear Conurbation almost 12 miles (19 His parents were Edward Smith, a potter, and Catherine Hancock née Marsh[1], who married in 1841 in Wolstanton. His parents later owned a shop. Smith attended the Etruria British School until the age of 13 when he went to Liverpool to begin a seafaring career. Etruria is a suburb of Stoke-on-Trent, in Staffordshire, England. Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary He apprenticed with Gibson & Co. , Liverpool.
On 12 July 1887, Smith married Sarah Eleanor Pennington. Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. Year 1887 ( MDCCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Their daughter, Helen Melville Smith, was born in Waterloo, Lancashire, in 1898. The family lived in an imposing red brick, twin-gabled house, named "Woodhead", on Winn Road, Portswood, Southampton. Portswood is a Suburb and Electoral Ward of Southampton, England. Southampton ( IPA /ˌsaʊθˈhæmptən/ is the largest city in the county of Hampshire, on the south coast of England According to his daughter, Captain Smith loved cigars and the smoke from them. He wouldn't let anyone into his study while he was smoking because he didn't want the ring of smoke to be disturbed.
As a Captain
Smith joined the White Star Line in March 1880 as the Fourth Officer of the Celtic. The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British Shipping Year 1880 ( MDCCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year SS Celtic was a steamship built for the White Star Line by shipbuilders Harland and Wolff of Belfast. He served aboard the company's liners to Australia and to New York, where he quickly rose in stature. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous In 1887, Smith received his first White Star command, the SS Republic. Year 1887 ( MDCCCLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common In 1888, Smith earned his Extra Master's Certificate and joined the Royal Naval Reserve (thus enabling him to append his name with "RNR"), qualifying as a full Lieutenant. Year 1888 ( MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Lieutenant (abbreviated Lt or Lieut) is a Military, Naval, Paramilitary, Fire service, Emergency medical services This meant that in a time of war, Smith and his ship could be called upon to serve by the Royal Navy. Because of his position as a Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve, Smith had the distinction of being able to fly the Blue Duster of the R. The Blue Ensign is a Flag, one of several British ensigns, used by certain organisations or territories associated with the United Kingdom. N. R. ; most ships flew the Red Duster of the merchant marine. The Red Ensign or " Red Duster " is a Flag that originated in the early 17th century as an Ensign flown by the Royal Navy.
Bigger commands
Smith was Majestic's captain for nine years commencing in 1895. The SS Majestic was a steamship built in 1890 for and operated by the White Star Line. Year 1895 ( MDCCCXCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year When the Boer War started in 1899, Smith and the Majestic were called upon to transport troops to Cape Colony. See also First Boer War,, South African Wars (1879-1915 The Second Boer War ( Dutch: Tweede Boerenoorlog, Afrikaans: Year 1899 ( MDCCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Cape Colony, part of modern South Africa, was established by the Dutch East India Company in 1652 with the founding of Cape Town. Two trips were made to South Africa, both without incident, and for his service, King Edward VII awarded Smith the Transport Medal, showing the "South Africa" clasp, in 1903. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa British campaign medals are awarded to members of the British Armed Forces Allied forces and Civilians participating in specified military campaigns Smith was regarded as a "safe captain".
As he rose in seniority, Smith gained a reputation amongst passengers and crew for quiet flamboyance. Eventually Smith became the commodore of White Star Line, or one who all other captains reported to. Commodore is a Military rank used in many navies for officers whose position exceeds that of a navy captain, but is less than Some passengers would only sail the Atlantic in a ship commanded by him. He became known as the "Millionaires' Captain" due to the fact that England's upper class were usually the ones who requested he be in command of the ships they sailed on. Is a concept in Sociology that refers to the group of people at the top of a Social hierarchy. After he became commodore of the White Star fleet in 1904, it became routine for Smith to command the line's newest ships on their maiden voyages. In 1904, he was given command of the largest ships in the world at the time, White Star's new Baltic. Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on Her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York, sailing 29 June 1904, went without incident. Events 512 - A Solar eclipse is recorded by a monastic chronicler in Ireland. Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on After three years with the Baltic, Smith was given his second new "big ship," the Adriatic. RMS Adriatic was an Ocean liner belonging to the White Star Line. Once again, the maiden voyage went without incident.
During his command of the Adriatic, Smith received the Royal Naval Reserve's long service decoration, along with a promotion to Commander. He would now sign his name as "Commander Edward John Smith, R. D. , R. N. R. ", with RD meaning "Reserve Decoration. The Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve ( RD) is a medal awarded in the Royal Naval Reserve of the United Kingdom to officers who have spent "
Olympic Class command
Smith had built a reputation as one of the world's most experienced sea captains, and so was called upon to take first command of the lead ship in a new class of ocean liners, the Olympic — again, the largest vessel in the world at that time. History J Bruce Ismay, the chairman of White Star Line, and William Pirrie, the chairman of Harland and Wolff Shipyard The maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York was successfully concluded on 21 June 1911, but as the ship was docking in New York harbor, it experienced a small incident which would foreshadow future events. Events 524 - Godomar, King of the Burgundians defeats the Franks at the Battle of Vézeronce. Year 1911 ( MCMXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Docking at Pier 59 under command of a harbor pilot, the Olympic was being assisted by twelve tugs when one got caught in the backwash of the Olympic's starboard propeller. The tug was spun around, collided with the bigger ship, and for a moment was trapped under the Olympic's stern, finally managing to work free and limp to the docks.
The Hawke incident
On 20 September 1911 Olympic's first major mishap occurred during a collision with a British warship, HMS Hawke, in which the warship lost her prow. Events 451 - The Battle of Chalons takes place in North Eastern France. Year 1911 ( MCMXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Service In 1897-1898 Hawke, under the command of Captain Sir Richard Poore, was in action in the Mediterranean in the operations which led to the pacification The prow is the very most forward part of a Ship 's Bow that cuts through the water Although the collision left two of Olympic's watertight compartments filled and one of her propeller shafts twisted, she was able to limp back to Southampton. Floodability is a characteristic of the construction of a Ship to resist Flooding. Southampton ( IPA /ˌsaʊθˈhæmptən/ is the largest city in the county of Hampshire, on the south coast of England At the resultant inquiry, the Royal Navy blamed Olympic for the incident, alleging that her massive size generated a suction that pulled HMS Hawke into her side. The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore known as the Senior Service) On the bridge during this incident was Captain Smith.
The Hawke incident was a financial disaster for White Star, and the out-of-service time for the big liner made matters worse. Olympic returned to Belfast and, to speed up the repairs, Harland and Wolff was forced to delay Titanic's completion, in order to use one of her propeller shafts for the Olympic. Belfast ( is the capital city of Northern Ireland and the seat of government in Northern Ireland. Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries is a diversified heavy industrial company specialising in Shipbuilding, Ship breaking, Offshore construction
Back at sea in February 1912, Olympic lost a propeller blade and once again returned to her builder for emergency repairs. A propeller is essentially a type of fan which transmits power by converting Rotational motion into Thrust for propulsion of a vehicle such as an To get her back to service immediately, Harland & Wolff yet again had to pull resources from Titanic, delaying her maiden voyage from 20 March to 10 April. Maiden Voyage is the fifth Album led by Jazz musician Herbie Hancock, and was recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in 1965 for Blue Note Events 1600 - The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden. Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama
RMS Titanic
Despite the past trouble, Smith was again appointed in command of the greatest steamship when RMS Titanic left Southampton for her maiden voyage. Construction The Titanic was a White Star Line ocean liner built at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Ireland Although some sources state that he had decided to retire after completing Titanic's maiden voyage, an article in the Halifax Morning Chronicle on 9 April 1912 stated that Smith would remain in charge of the Titanic "until the Company (White Star Line) completed a larger and finer steamer. Events 193 - Septimius Severus is proclaimed Roman Emperor by the army in Illyricum (in the Balkans) Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting "
On 10 April 1912, Smith, wearing a bowler hat and a long overcoat, took a taxi from his home to Southampton docks. Events 879 - Louis III becomes King of the Western Franks. 1407 - the lama Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting He came aboard the Titanic at 7AM to prepare for the board of trade muster at 8. 00AM. He immediately went to his cabin to get the sailing report from Chief Officer Henry Wilde. See also Seafarer's professions and ranks A Chief Mate (C/M or Chief Officer, usually also synonymous (except on Passenger liners which Henry Tingle Wilde, RNR ( 21 September 1872 in Walton, England – 15 April 1912) was the Chief Officer
After departure at 12:00PM, the huge amount of water displaced by Titanic as she passed caused the laid-up New York to break from her moorings and swing towards the Titanic. History When the Inman Line was purchased by the International Navigation Company, who already owned the Red Star Line and the American Line, they Quick action from Smith helped to avert a premature end to the maiden voyage.
At 11:40PM, on 14 April the Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic. Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in An iceberg is a large piece of freshwater Ice that has broken off from a snow-formed Glacier or Ice shelf and is floating in open water The ship sank two hours and forty minutes later killing an estimated 1,500 people. Smith was one of those who died.
Death
It is not known how Smith died on the night of the sinking. Some survivors reported seeing him in the water with a life jacket, while others reported seeing him in the bridge wheelhouse as the open bridge flooded. In Robert Ballard's book, The Discovery of the Titanic, he claims that Smith went into the bridge at 2:13AM, eleven minutes before the final sinking. Robert Duane Ballard (born June 30, 1942 in Wichita Kansas) is an oceanographer most noted for his work in underwater Archaeology This idea is used by the 1997 film. Titanic is a 1997 Disaster film directed written co-produced and co-edited by James Cameron about the sinking of the RMS ''Titanic'' Still, one other passenger claimed to have seen Smith swim back into the A Deck Promenade, soon after which he was sucked back inside the Grand Staircase when the windows gave way. The Titanic struck the iceberg at around 11:40PM, but did not sink until around 2:23AM the following day. This would make Captain Smith's date of death 15 April 1912. Events 1450 - Battle of Formigny: Toward the end of the Hundred Years' War, the French attack and nearly annihilate English Year 1912 ( MCMXII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting
Portrayals
Smith was first portrayed on film by the German actor Otto Wernicke in the 1943 Nazi propaganda movie Titanic. Otto Karl Robert Wernicke ( September 30, 1893 – November 7, 1965) was a German Actor. Titanic was a 1943 Nazi Propaganda Film made during World War II in Berlin by Tobis Productions for UFA He was then portrayed by Brian Aherne in the 1953 film of the same name. Brian Aherne ( May 2, 1902 – February 10, 1986) was an Oscar -nominated English Actor of both stage and screen Titanic is a 1953 Drama film directed by Jean Negulesco. The film is not to be confused with the other movies with the same title Following that, he was played several times, including Laurence Naismith (A Night to Remember), Harry Andrews (S.O.S. Titanic) and by George C. Scott in the 1996 mini-series. Laurence Naismith ( 14 December, 1908 – 5 June, 1992) was an English actor A Night to Remember is a Docudrama film adaptation of Walter Lord 's book of the same name, recounting the final night of the RMS ''Titanic'' Major Harry Fleetwood Andrews, CBE (born 10 November, 1911 - 6 March, 1989) was an English Actor SOS Titanic is a 1979 Television movie that depicts the doomed 1912 voyage from the perspective of three distinct groups of passengers in First Second and George Campbell Scott (October 18 1927 - September 22 1999 was an American stage and film Actor, director, and producer. Titanic was a made-for-TV movie that premiered in 1996. Titanic follows several characters on board the RMS ''Titanic'' when she sinks on His most recent portrayal was in 1997's Titanic, played by Bernard Hill. Titanic is a 1997 Disaster film directed written co-produced and co-edited by James Cameron about the sinking of the RMS ''Titanic'' Bernard Hill (born 17 December 1944) is a British Actor of film stage and television In the latter, he refuses the crew's help in leaving the ship and locks himself in the bridge, where he dies when the bridge goes under water, and floods when the windows break due to the pressure.
He was portrayed on television by Michael Rennie in the pilot episode of The Time Tunnel. Michael Rennie ( 25 August[[ 909]]&ndash 10 June[[ 971]] was an English film television and stage actor best known for his starring role as the benevolent The Time Tunnel is a 1966–1967 US color Science fiction TV series. (For some unknown reason, he was billed as "Malcolm Smith" in the show's closing credits. )
In literary form, Smith has a cameo appearance in the "Captain's Table" series of Star Trek novels. He is seen in the Captain's Table, a bar that anyone from any period of history can enter - as long as they are a ship (or troop) captain. Smith is seen clutching a drink and muttering to himself "Damned iceberg. Damned iceberg. " Captain Mackenzie Calhoun (of Star Trek: New Frontier) takes pity on Smith and gives him his Starfleet communicator. Mackenzie Calhoun (born M'k'n'zy of Calhoun) is a Fictional character from the Star Trek universe. Star Trek New Frontier is a Star Trek Novel series created by John J
References
- Biographical info on Smith at The Real Titanic
- Source for Smith's first assignment with White Star
External links
- TITANIC - A Voyage of Discovery (captain)
- Captain Smith on Titanic-Titanic.com
- Captain Smith's Memorial on Titanic-Titanic.com
- One of Stoke-on-Trent Museums' Local Heroes
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