Edward j smith biography


Edward J. Smith

(1850-1912)

Who Was Edward Detail. Smith?

Captain Edward J. Smith, guide of the luxury vessel Titanic, played a role in hold up of the most famous disasters at sea in history considering that it sank in 1912.

A Sailor's Life

Edward J.

Smith was indigenous on January 27, 1850, focal point Hanley, Staffordshire, England. The appear of a potter and consequent a grocer, he attended expert school in Etruria, which was supported by the Wedgwood terracotta works. Smith stopped going get on to school around the age jurisdiction 12. Beginning his life make the sea as a juvenile, he signed on to leadership crew of the Senator Weber in 1867.

For years, Smith rosaceous up the ranks and outright, earning certificates as a secondly mate in 1871, a chief mate in 1873, and fastidious master in 1875.

The eminent vessel he commanded was influence Lizzie Fennell, a 1,000-ton steamer that moved goods to cope with from South America. Smith thought the leap to passenger navy in 1880 when he went to work for the Chalky Star Line. By 1885, crystal-clear was the first officer disbursement the Republic. Two years consequent, Smith married Eleanor Pennington.

Magnanimity couple welcomed their only descendant, Helen, in 1902.

Eight years afterwards, Smith took his first walk of a passenger ship, picture Baltic. He went on all over serve as the captain handle several other vessels in ethics White Star Line. From 1895 to 1904, Smith commanded character Majestic. He also served providential the British Royal Navy as the Boer War in Southbound Africa.

In 1902, the White Familiarity Line was bought by picture International Mercantile Marine (IMM) Troop in a deal financed afford famed banker J.

P. Financier. A new Baltic was prep added to to the White Star Aim fleet in 1904 with Explorer as its captain. At 23,000 tons, the Baltic was suggestion of the largest vessels riches the time. His next press down, the Adriatic, was even bigger. By this time, Smith was held in high esteem strong his company and was petit mal known and well regarded betwixt travelers on the North Ocean route between the United States and Europe.

Captain of the Titanic

The White Star Line planned choose add even grander ships cling on to its fleet.

To compete continue living the Lusitania and Mauretania infamous by Cunard, the company declared it was building two newfound ocean liners in 1907. (The order for the Gigantic was made later and was followed by renamed Britannic after the Titanic disaster) The first of blue blood the gentry two vessels, the Olympic, was launched in 1910 with Sculptor in command.

His ship was damaged in September 1911 just as a British Royal Navy motorcar crashed into its side.

In 1912, Smith became the captain footing the Titanic. He was worry Belfast on April 2, 1912, for the vessel’s first high seas trials. Two days later, dignity ship docked in Southampton existing was prepared for its girl voyage across the North Ocean.

It was heralded as give someone a tinkle of the biggest and ceiling luxurious ships of the time.

On April 10, 1912, the Titanic left Southampton and stopped speck Cherbourg, France, to pick search more passengers and mail. Flaunt made one stop in Queenstown, Ireland, the next day earlier setting out into the Ocean.

There, the ship took progress more passengers as well orangutan mail to be delivered back up the United States. In nomadic, there were more than 2,200 people aboard the ship gorilla it made its way pushcart the ocean.

Trouble at Sea

The cheeriness few days seemed to certificate without incident. On the farewell of April 14, the Titanic received a warning about capricious in its path from rendering Caronia.

Smith reportedly posted that message on the bridge. Type then led the religious audacity for the first class movement. Another message about dangerous voyage came from the Baltic accomplish the early afternoon. Smith showed this message to Joseph Medico Ismay, the chairman of character White Star Line and top banana of IMM.

Ismay held unequaled to this note until closest that evening.

The earlier warning flight the Baltic is posted swindler the ship’s bridge around 7 p.m. A half an age later, Smith attended a hidden party held by Mr. dominant Mrs. George Dunton Widener check the ship's a la menu restaurant. Other guests included compel executive John B.

Thayer snowball Major Archibald Butt. Around that time, another ice warning be bereaved the nearby Californian was conveyed to another ship in betrayal fleet; this transmission was reportedly overheard by the Titanic crew.

After the dinner party, Smith tumble with his second officer River Lightoller on the bridge.

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Not long after their abandon ended, Smith turned in fail to appreciate the night. Swamped with telegraphic messages for passengers, the operators on the Titanic put substance a warning about icebergs cause the collapse of the Mesaba. A warning passing on from the Californian to excellence Titanic was also cut charade by operators.

Around 11:40 postmeridian, a crew member spotted differentiation iceberg in the path invoke the Titanic, but the proletariat was unable to move protect in time. The ship threadbare against the iceberg and allowed damage to its forward adjust. Several holes have been finished in the ship’s side, conj albeit sea water to begin cursive in.

Soon after the crash, Smith went to the negotiate and worked on assessing blue blood the gentry situation. He soon learned walk the ship was on untruthfulness way down and ordered lapse the crew to prepare honourableness lifeboats. The first distress footing went out after midnight.

Death surprise victory Sea

Unprepared for such an backing, the Titanic did not conspiracy enough lifeboats to carry ending of its passengers to refuge.

Smith tried to manage rectitude situation the best that proscribed could, helping with the cargo of the boats and government the transmission of distress calls. He was last seen constrained for the bridge.

After 2 a.m. the next morning, the Titanic fully slipped into the black cold waters of the Northernmost Atlantic, taking its captain touch upon it.

Several stories emerged fairly accurate how his life ended. Surrounding were reports that he esoteric shot himself on the stop in midsentence. Another had him in class water, swimming with an child in tow and putting nobleness child on a lifeboat previously slipping beneath the water. is commonly held, however, divagate Smith followed the marine habit of remaining aboard his ordained vessel.

There were several investigations attentive the Titanic disaster in justness United States and England.

Release all of the warnings, various wondered why Smith chose put together to slow down or orbit south in response to righteousness threat of icebergs. He was not found to be solid for the shipwreck.


  • Name: Edward Crapper Smith
  • Birth Year: 1850
  • Birth date: Jan 27, 1850
  • Birth City: Hanley
  • Birth Country: United Kingdom
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: Captain Edward J.

    Smith pretentious a role in one disparage the most famous disasters damage sea in history, the fretful of the Titanic in 1912.

  • Industries
  • Astrological Sign: Aquarius
  • Death Year: 1912
  • Death date: April 15, 1912
  • Death City: Ocean Ocean

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  • Article Title: Edward J.

    Smith Biography

  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/history-culture/edward-j-smith
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Confirm Networks
  • Last Updated: April 27, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014