Titanic: Captain Edward John Smith's legacy - BBC News BBC News Titanic: Captain Edward John Smith's legacy By Emma Kasprzak BBC News 15 April 2012 Read more about sharing. Close share panel He is viewed as the stereotype of how a brave captain should act, working to the last to save lives before going down with his ship, yet he is also blamed by many for causing one of the worst maritime disasters of all time. So why does the public continue to be fascinated by the captain of the Titanic, Captain Edward John Smith? Born in the landlocked Potteries, in Stoke-on-Trent, the son of a pottery presser and grocer rose to become 'the millionaire's captain', the number one choice for the aristocrats of the day, many of whom chose to sail with him because of his reputation for safety and affability. Rising through the Edwardian social classes could be seen as an achievement in itself but Smith went on to captain some of the biggest ships of the day, including Titanic's sister ship the Olympic. In his home town an exhibition is currently taking place looking at the links between Stoke-on-Trent and the liner.

Captain Edward John Smith Born in Hanley, in the Potteries 27 January 1850 Attended Etruria British School After school Smith worked for about three years at the Etruria Forge where he operated a steam hammer In 1867 he went to Liverpool to go to sea and follow in the footsteps of his half-brother Joseph Hancock, a captain on a sailing ship At the age of 25 he passed his master's certificate of competency meaning he could command a vessel In 1887 he married Sarah Eleanor Pennington, a farmer's daughter In 1898 only child Helen Melville Smith is born Died 15 April 1912. Witnesses reported he dived into the sea as the bridge of the ship went under. The exhibition at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery includes a number of items that belonged to Smith and rare video footage of him on board the Olympic. Visitors are invited to read through the evidence about how the ship met its end before voting for who they think was responsible. The votes will be announced later this year. Curator Cathy Shingler said: "So far the captain is a third ahead so he is still getting the blame.

"People are writing on the voting forms 'The ship's captain is responsible for his ship'. "They think his actions were terrible and Stoke should be ashamed of him." But she added they could not let the anniversary of the sinking pass without acknowledging the captain's links to the area. Historian Ray Johnson, who is organising a weekend of exploration and entertainment on the anniversary of the sinking, said the captain was attracting "international interest". "Whether you think he's to blame or not, you can't ignore it," he said. Titanic websites allow people with an interest in the ill-fated liner to read about the ship. Many have sections and articles devoted to Smith and items linked to the captain frequently sell for thousands of pounds at auction . Forceful sailor Image caption Smith went to Liverpool following in the footsteps of his half-brother One of the books about him, Titanic Captain: The Life of Edward John Smith, was written by Gary Cooper. Mr Cooper said his own interest in Smith came about not through any interest in the Titanic, but through an interest in the history of his home town of Stoke-on-Trent. Among the many myths surrounding the captain, perhaps the most famous and ominous is that he ignored ice warnings.

Mr Cooper said: "Smith certainly did not ignore ice warnings per se, and he made sure the ones that reached the bridge were all posted in the chart room, though he did have to retrieve one that he had earlier handed to his boss J. Bruce Ismay. "However, ice warnings were just that, simply warnings that ice was seen at X co-ordinates at a certain time which Smith may have registered rather than reacted to. "Though Smith was undoubtedly a forceful sailor who pushed his ships hard in conditions that may have daunted other captains, it is a fact of history that providing the weather was calm and clear - as it was that night - it was not unusual for any captain to sail ships into ice regions at speed and several captains from other shipping companies testified to this at the disaster inquiries." Evidence for another myth, that the captain shot himself, was "spurious", said Mr Cooper. One story that was popular with the press at the time was that the maiden voyage of the Titanic was to be Smith's last before retirement. Enigma factor From humble beginnings Edward John Smith was born in Well Street, in Hanley, in 1850.

There is some debate over which house he lived in because the houses in the street have been renumbered several times over the years and some houses were demolished to make way for a block of flats. What is not in question is that he lived on Well Street and many believe the family resided at number 51. Neil Donner bought the house 10 years ago as a rental property. He said part of the reason he bought it was because of the possible link to Captain Smith. He said: "I wasn't interested (in the Titanic) more than anyone else but I was born in Stoke so it means a little bit more to me." But he has decided to put the house, which is currently unoccupied, on the market. "It seems like a good year to do it with the anniversary so I'm hoping there will be some interest," he said. The building itself is a modest, two bedroom terraced house on a quiet residential street. It stands on a corner with views over green hills in the distance. It is easy to imagine the young Edward Smith standing looking out at the same hills and perhaps wondering what was over them before he went away to sea.

Mr Cooper said: "This seems to have been wishful thinking on the part of the press, keen to gild the lily of the Titanic disaster with another irony. "In fact on 10 April, five days before the sinking, White Star had scotched rumours of Smith's retirement by stating that he would continue as Titanic's commander until another bigger ship came online." Mr Cooper said the enduring fascination people have with Smith could be down to several reasons. "There is the reflected glamour of the voyage and its sad ending which obviously play a part, as it is unlikely that we today would have heard of him otherwise; the enigma factor perhaps comes into it too as Smith was the ship's commander but remains a largely unheard voice in the story and we are for the most part left to puzzle over his motives and thinking," he said.

He added: "The main reason for the fascination with him, though, I think, is that he lives up to a stereotype, perhaps one that he himself helped to create, as to how ships' captains should behave when disaster strikes, namely that they should stay with their vessel and either be the last man off, or go down with it." Smith's actions were not far from the thoughts of many observers when the Costa Concordia cruise ship ran aground on 13 January off the western coast of Italy with more than 4,200 passengers and crew. Its captain, Francesco Schettino, now faces possible charges of manslaughter, causing a shipwreck and abandoning a ship in which 32 people were either killed or are missing. Mr Cooper said: "It might be said that in many ways he taught us what not to do, which is something. Yet I also think he left a yardstick not only for sea captains to live up to but indeed any person in a position of authority. "Smith made mistakes, it is true, but to the end he did not shirk his responsibilities or try to wheedle out of them and paid the ultimate price as a result.

How many of our leaders today would be prepared to do the same?" Captain Edward J. Smith (Character) - Quotes Captain Edward J. Smith (Character) from Titanic (1997) The content of this page was created by users. It has not been screened or verified by IMDb staff. Captain Edward J. Smith : [addressing the ship's officers and Ismay on the bridge] Gentlemen, we are in a precarious position. We must be prepared to abandon ship. [Officers look at each other in sheer surprise] Captain Edward J. Smith : Mister Murdoch, you will muster the passengers. Mister Lightoller, you will have the boats uncovered and swung out. Mister Boxhall, call all hands and get them to boat stations. Mister Moody, you will help Mister Lightoller. Mister Wilde and Mister Pitman will remain on the bridge. Everything will be done quietly and calmly. There must be no alarm and no panic. I will give the word when the boats are to loaded with the women and children. Carry on, please. [the officers disperse to carry out their orders] Ismay : Captain! Aren't you exaggerating the danger? Captain Edward J. Smith : I am acting on his advice.

This ship is going to founder. Ismay : But, she can't! In any case, we can't get everyone in the boats. Captain Edward J. Smith : [grim tone] I know that, sir. Please God, it won't come to that! Quartermaster George Thomas Rowe : [after firing off the last of the distress rockets in a desperate attempt to attract the attention of the "Californian"] That's the last one, sir. Captain Edward J. Smith : No reply to your signals? Quartermaster George Thomas Rowe : No sir. I think the bastards must be asleep. Quartermaster George Thomas Rowe : Aye aye, sir. Captain Edward J. Smith : [enters the wireless cabin as the ship's end is nearing, to give Phillips and Bride a final order] It's time to go now, Phillips. You've done your duty. You can do no more. Abandon your cabin, it's everyone for himself. Look after yourselves now. I release you both. God bless you. Captain Edward J. Smith : [through his megaphone to passengers and crew as the ship is beginning its final plunge] Abandon ship! Every man for himself!

Andrews : [Andrews is looking at the ship's blueprints as he describes the damage to the Captain] Here's the position: we have water in the forepeak; numbers 1 and 2 holds; the mailroom; and boiler rooms 6 and 5. That means a gash 300 feet long, from there to there... [indicates gash with a pencil on the blueprint] Andrews : Below the waterline. Do you agree? 1st Officer William Murdoch : Doors are closed, sir. Smith : [walking on deck] All stop! [to Murdoch] 1st Officer William Murdoch : Yes, sir! Ismay : [Andrews enters room with crew behind him; he lays out architectural drawings on table, with Ismay behind him] Most unfortunate, captain! Thomas Andrews : [perspiring and trembling] Water... fourteen feet above the keel in ten minutes. In the forepeak, in all three holds and in the boiler room six. Ismay : When can we get underway, damnit! Thomas Andrews : That's five compartments! She can stay afloat with the first four compartments breached, but not five! [tersely to Smith] Thomas Andrews : Not five.

As she goes down by the head, the water will spill over the tops of the bulkheads at E deck from one to the next. Back and back. There's no stopping it. Smith : The pumps... if we opened the doors... Thomas Andrews : [interrupting] The pumps buy you time, but minutes only. From this moment, no matter what we do, Titanic will founder. Ismay : [incredulously] But this ship can't sink! Thomas Andrews : She's made of iron, sir! I assure you, she can... and she will. It is a mathematical certainty. Smith : How much time? 1st Officer William Murdoch : 2,200 souls on board, sir. Smith : [turning to Ismay] Well, I believe you may get your headlines, Mr. Ismay. Ismay : So you've not yet lit the last four boilers? Smith : No, I don't see the need. We are making excellent time. Ismay : The press knows the size of Titanic. Now I want them to marvel at her speed. We must give them something new to print! This maiden voyage of Titanic must make headlines! Smith : Mr.

Ismay, I would prefer not to push the engines until they've been properly run in. Ismay : Of course, I'm just a passenger. I leave it to your good offices to decide what's best. But what a glorious end to your final crossing if we were to get to New York on Tuesday night and surprise them all! Make the morning papers. Retire with a bang, eh E.J.? Ismay : [Smith nods reluctantly] Good man. Robert Hitchins : [deleted scene] C'mon, pull! Pull! Smith : [Over brass megaphone] Come back! Come back to the ship! Boat 6, come back to the ship! Molly Brown : [to other rowers] Stop! We have to go back! Robert Hitchins : No. The suction will pull us down if we don't keep going. Molly Brown : We've lots more room! I say we go back. Robert Hitchins : No! It's our lives now, not theirs. And I'm in charge of this boat, madam! Now *row*! Smith : This is the captain! This is the captain! Come back!

[pause] Edward John Smith | Titanic Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia [ show ] Early Days and Joining White Star Line Edward John Smith was born in the landlocked town of Hanley, Stoke, England, at 51 Well Street on the January 27th, 1850, he was an only child. His father was a potter, and his mother was Catherine. He was a member of the Etruria Methodist Church, which was built in 1805. The church still stands today looking much like it did when Smith attended it as a boy. As a boy, he owned a fighting cock named Big Red. Smith married Sarah Eleanor, daughter of William Pennington, at St. Oswald's Church in Winwick. They would first live at Spar Cottage in Winwick. They had one daughter Helen Melville Smith born in Liverpool, England in 1898.

Per his schoolfellow, William Jones, of Edmund-street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Smith was "a genial and good schoolfellow; one always ready to give a kind of helping hand in any way to his mates." He was a scholar at Etruria, the school which the great and the good Wedgwood, the potter of worldwide fame, established and maintained in Staffordshire. "My memory brings back many happy days spent with him at school, and also many happy hours before and after school time. There were six of us in those days - six firm friends who stuck together, and Smith was the staunchest of us all. I remember how Vincent Simspon used to call on me first, and how we would call for Johnny Leonard. Then the three of us would knock at Ted Smith's door, and having collected the others we would run down Mill-street and Etruria-road to school." "He was a brave soul as a boy. He was always ready to help and give of his best." - William Jones Edward John Smith went to sea at age of thirteen.

He became an apprentice on a clipper ship, the Senator Weber, in 1869, an American built sailing vessel owned by A. Gibson & Co of Liverpool. He served as the Fourth Officer on the Celtic in 1880. Joining the White Star Line in 1886, Smith served aboard the company's major vessels - freighters to Australia, liners to New York - he quickly assumed command. In 1887, he was appointed the captain of the Republic. As the ships grew in size, so did the importance of Captain Smith. He was the Majestic's captain for nine years starting in 1895, during which period he made two trooping voyages to South Africa during the Boer War. For this service he was awarded the Transport Medal. In addition, he was an honorary commander of the Royal Naval Reserve and, as such, had been granted warrant number 690 allowing him to fly the Blue Ensign on any merchant vessels he commanded. His career would lead him to command 17 more White Star vessels. Capt. Smith on the bridge of another ship Among these ships was the Adriatic.

In 1907 having brought her safely to New York on her maiden voyage, he confidently spoke to the press, "When anyone asks me how I can best describe my experiences in nearly 40 years at sea, I merely say, uneventful. Of course, there have been winter gales, and storms and fog and the like, but in all my experience I have never been in any accident of any sort worth speaking about. I have seen but one vessel in distress in all my years at sea - a brig, the crew of which were taken off in a small boat in charge of my third officer. I never saw a wreck and have never been wrecked, nor was I ever in any predicament that threatened to end in disaster of any sort. You see, I am not very good material for a story." Little did Captain Smith know that his photograph would one day make the front pages of newspapers around the world. One of his friends, Dr. Williams, recalled this quote when Smith commanded the Adriatic. "We do not care anything for the heaviest storms in these big ships. It is fog that we fear.

The big icebergs that drift into warmer water melt much more rapidly under water than on the surface, and sometimes a sharp, low reef extending two or three hundred feet beneath the sea is formed. If a vessel should run on one of these reefs half her bottom might be torn away." According to Williams, he pointed out the inadequacy of the Adriatic's lifeboats and asked Captain Smith what would happen if the Adriatic struck a concealed reef of ice and was badly damaged. "Some of us would go to the bottom with the ship." was the captain's whimsical reply. Olympic and Titanic Smith was ranked highly by the White Star Line. Since the Baltic of 1904 he had taken out the company's newest liners on their maiden voyages. After Baltic came Adriatic in 1907, then Olympic in 1911. Captain Smith was regarded as a "safe Captain" and, for the period, he probably was. Yet he had been in command of the Germanic when on 16 February 1899, she capsized at her New York pier from ice accumulations in her rigging and superstructure.

There was a fire aboard the Baltic in 1904 as well as this same ship running aground in 1909. Although, the report of this was in the New York Times, the officers denied that it happened. They had insisted it must be some other ship. In June 1911 while maneuvering the Olympic into her New York Pier, the ship had damaged a tugboat with the thrust from one of the its propellers. It seemed that Captain Smith - along with most contemporary liner captains - had much to learn about the displacement effects of the ship's huge hulk. The incident was therefore written up as a minor scrape, although the tug's owner did sue White Star for $10,000, prompting a counter suit from the company. Ultimately, both cases were dropped because of lack of evidence. It was not the only mishap with the Olympic. On Wednesday, 20 September 1911, the Olympic set off from Southampton on her fifth voyage, under the command of Captain Smith. As she made her way down the Solent and headed out to pass the east end of the Isle of Wright, she got up to a speed of 18 knots.

She was nominally under the direction of George Bowyer, a very experienced Trinity House Pilot. As she turned to starboard to round the Bramble bank, speed was reduced to 11 knots but the wide radius of her turn surprised the commander of the HMS Hawke, a 7,000 ton cruiser, who was unable to take sufficient avoiding action. The two ships collided, the cruiser's steel and concrete bow ram burying itself deep into the starboard quarter of the great liner. Baggage stowed in the hold of the Olympic spilled out onto the deck of the Hawke. Fortunately nobody was killed and both ships remained afloat, the Olympic making it back to Southampton on one engine, despite two major watertight compartments being completely flooded. Although the blame was legally placed on the Olympic, and the White Star Line faced with large legal costs as well as the costs of repairing the ship and the losses resulting form the disruption of services, the solace was that the ship had survived a major collision (the Hawke, after all, was designed to sink enemy ships by ramming them) and had remained a float and stable despite serious flooding.

"The commander of the Hawke was entirely to blame," a young officer on board the Olympic had complained, "he was 'showing off' his war ship before a throng of passengers and made a miscalculation." Captain Smith probably smiled enigmatically at the theory advanced by his subordinate, but made no comment as to this view of the mishap. "The Olympic is unsinkable, and Titanic will be the same when she is put in commission." He continued, "either of these two vessels could be cut in halves and each half would remain afloat almost indefinitely. The non-sinkable vessel has been reached in these two wonderful craft." "I venture to add," concluded the Captain, "that even the engines and boilers of these vessels were to fall through their bottoms, the vessels would remain afloat." "I cannot imagine any condition which would cause a ship to founder. I cannot conceive of any vital disaster happening to this vessel. Modern shipbuilding has gone beyond that." A friend of Captain Smith's, Glen Marston, said that while returning from Europe on the Olympic, he remarked to the Captain on the small number of lifeboats carried by such a large passenger steamer.

It was then that the Captain spoke of the life preserving equipment on the Titanic, which was then under construction. Marston quoted Smith as saying he thought the lack of equipment for saving lives was not due to a desire of the steamship owners to save money, but rather because they believed their ships to be safe. Lifeboats were thought to be required only in cases in which passengers were to be landed." It was the Captain's opinion, according to Marston, that enough lifeboats and rafts should be carried to insure safety to every passenger in case of an accident. Over the years, White Star Line had built up a clientele of passengers who would not dream of crossing the Atlantic on a liner commanded by anyone other than Edward John Smith. In later years, the description of Smith would be an avuncular man with a gray beard and a barrel chest, he was the epitome of an old sea dog. He may have looked fearsome, but in truth he was soft-spoken, gentle and a leader in whom passengers and crews had great confidence. He had a pleasant, quiet voice and a ready smile. A natural leader and a fine seaman, Captain Smith was popular alike with officers and men. Captain Smith on the Titanic.

Charles Lightoller, one of his officers, related, "I had been with him many years, off and on, in the mail boats, Majestic, mainly, and it was an education to see him con his own ship up through the intricate channels entering New York at full speed. One particularly bad corner, known as the South-West Spit, used to make us fairly flush with pride as he swung her round, judging his distances to a nicety; she heeling over to the helm with only a matter of feet to spare between each end of the ship and the banks." "Though I believe he's an awful stickler for discipline he's popular with everybody," wrote Titanic's Sixth Officer James Moody to his sister. "The crew knew him to be a good, kind-hearted man," a steward shared, "and we looked upon him as a sort of father." Among the passengers, the veterans of the smoking room swore by him. He enjoyed the confidence alike of millionaires and bishops ('he never took a risk, was the considered opinion of the Bishop of Willesden). Children, too, adored him, and were sure of being noticed by him. He was known affectionately as "E.J." among more than a generation of ocean travelers.

On account of E.J.'s popularity it became a custom for the company to appoint him to the command of each of their finest ships as it came into operation. A maiden voyage without Captain Smith in command was almost unthinkable. U.S. Congressman, William Alden Smith and his son had made a North Atlantic voyage aboard the Baltic in 1906. The American congressman, six years later, would lead the US Inquiry into the sinking of the Titanic. As a U.S. Congressman, he had been invited to dine at the captain's table, Captain E.J. Smith. The conversation had turned from railway regulation to steamship safety. Subsequently, EJ had invited him to the bridge, where he viewed the mechanism that activated the watertight doors. The captain had then conducted the Congressman and his son on a tour through the ship, explaining everything in detail. William Alden was duly impressed - as impressed as he was later dumbfounded - "EJ was no fool, nor was he "reckless" as some editors would suggest after the Titanic disaster. In 1912, Smith took command of the RMS Titanic. At that time, he was aged 62.

Although it is accepted from sources that Smith had made plans to retire after the return voyage to Southampton, the Haliafax Morning Chronicle on 9 April said that Smith would remain in charge for a few more years before the White Star Line decided to let him retire. He had earlier took command of Titanic's sister ship, the Olympic and was actually filmed inspecting the vessel. When Titanic left Southampton , she displaced so much water that she caused the laid-up liner SS New York to break her moorings and swing towards her . Captain Smith's quick action and experience helped to prevent a premature end to the maiden voyage. During the voyage, Smith had been given several ice warnings from other ships in the Atlantic, telling him that there was a huge ice field in the Titanic's path. He handed one of the warnings to the chairman of White Star, J. Bruce Ismay , who was on board as a First Class passenger. Smith normally took meals at a small table in the dining saloon or in his cabin, attended by his personal valet, or "Tiger", Arthur Paintin . On the night of April 14, however, he attended a dinner party held in his honour by George Widener and his family.

The party was attended by the cream of 1912 society as it was represented on the Titanic. However Smith was possibly concerned that the ship was entering the ice zone about which he had received ample warnings during the weekend. He excused himself early and went to the bridge. Lightoller was keeping watch and discussed the temperature with Smith far a while. Smith told Lightoller to alert him immediately if he was at all concerned. He then retired to bed. Sinking of the Titanic The last known photo of Capt. Smith walking on Titanic's Promenade Deck When the Titanic hit the berg shortly after 11:40 P.M., Smith was asleep in his cabin. He was woken by the collision and rushed to the bridge where he was told by First Officer William Murdoch that the ship had just collided with an iceberg. Worried, he ordered Fourth Officer Boxhall to go on a quick inspection to see how much damage the ship had reviced. He came back and said he didn't find any serious damage, but right after the carpenter and a postal clerk rushed onto the bridge. "She's taking on water, quickly", the carpenter said. Jago Smith said: "the mail room 's flooding".

Then Bruce Ismay , managing director of the White Star Line , also arrived on the bridge. "Do you think the ship is seriously damaged?" Captain Smith replied: "I am afraid she is." Smith then went on inspection himself with the ship's designer, Thomas Andrews . The news Andrews gave was shocking and horrifying. Five of her watertight compartments had been flooded. She was designed to float with her first four compartments flooded but not five. With this amount of underwater damge, Titanic could not stay afloat and she would sink in less than 3 hours. The impending disaster dawned on Captain Smith. He had never been in a situation like this before and his career seemed to have been shattered by the fate of his ship. However, he and the other crew members did their best to get everyone off the ship. During the evacuation, Captain Smith, aware that there were not enough lifeboats for all of the passengers and crew, did all in his power to prevent panic and did his best to assist in the evacuation; Major Arthur Godfrey Peuchen of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club said "He was doing everything in his power to get women in these boats, and to see that they were lowered properly.

I thought he was doing his duty in regard to the lowering of the boats". Robert Williams Daniel, a first class passenger also said: Captain Smith was the biggest hero I ever saw. He stood on the bridge and shouted through a megaphone, trying to make himself heard.': Just minutes before the ship started its final plunge, Smith was still busy releasing Titanic's crew from their duties; he went to the Marconi operators room and released Junior Marconi Officer Harold Bride and senior wireless operator John "Jack" Phillips from their duties. He then carried out a final tour of the deck, telling crew members: "Now it's every man for himself." At 2:10 a.m., Steward Edward Brown saw the captain approach with a megaphone in his hand. He heard him say "Well boys, do your best for the women and children, and look out for yourselves.” He saw the Captain walk onto the bridge alone. A few minutes later Trimmer Samuel Hemming found the bridge apparently empty, because Smith was in the wheelhouse. He has a brief conversation with Thomas Andrews before the latter jumped off. A few minutes later, the ship disappeared beneath the ocean.

Smith perished that night along with 1495 others, and his body was never recovered. Death There are conflicting accounts of Smith's death. Some survivors said they saw Smith enter the wheelhouse on the bridge, and die there when it was engulfed. Captain Smith himself made statements hinting that he would go down with his ship if he was ever confronted with a disaster. A friend of Smith's, Dr. Williams, asked Captain Smith what would happen if the Adriatic struck a concealed reef of ice and was badly damaged. "Some of us would go to the bottom with the ship," was Smith's reply. A boyhood friend, William Jones said, "Ted Smith passed away just as he would have loved to do. To stand on the bridge of his vessel and go down with her was characteristic of all his actions when we were boys together." Because of these factors as well as the accounts of Smith going inside the wheelhouse, this has remained the iconic image which has remained of Smith and has been perpetuated by film portrayals.

Initially, rumors that Smith was the officer who committed suicide by shooting himself in the last minutes of the sinking, an incident that was reported by several survivors, were reported by the Washington Times and the French paper L'Excelsior based off the survivor accounts of Ms. Gretchen Longley and Mrs. Washington Dodge; a boy who was one of the last to leave the ship also told Dr. J.F. Kemp, a passenger on the Carpathia , that "Captain Smith put a pistol to his head and then fell down." Surviving crewmen, however, vigorously denied this rumor. Also, Smith's appearance, with a full white beard, would have made him stand out, whereas not one of the witnesses described the officer concerned as having a beard. There is also no evidence of Smith ever having possession of a revolver or ever having fired a gun. When working to free Collapsible B , Junior Marconi Officer Harold Bride said he saw Captain Smith dive from the bridge into the sea just as Collapsible B was levered off the roof of the officers' quarters, a story which was corroborated by first class passenger Eleanor Widener , who was in Lifeboat 4 (the closest to the sinking ship) at the time.

Also second class passenger William John Mellors , who survived aboard collapsible B, stated that Smith jumped from the bridge. Tim Maltin, author of 101 Things You Thought You Knew About The Titanic - But Didn't! affirms that the witnesses "could here be mistaking Captain Smith for Lightoller , who we know did exactly this at this time, first swimming towards the crow's nest.". Several accounts say that Smith may have been seen in the water near the overturned Collapsible B during or after the sinking. Colonel Archibald Gracie reported that an unknown swimmer came near the capsized and overcrowded lifeboat, and that one of the men on board told him "Hold on to what you have, old boy. One more of you aboard would sink us all,"; in a powerful voice, the swimmer replied "All right boys. Good luck and God bless you.". Gracie did not see this man, nor was able to identify him, but some other survivors later claimed to have recognised this man as Smith. Another man (or possibly the same) never asked to come aboard the boat, but instead cheered its occupants saying "Good boys! Good lads!" with "the voice of authority".

One of the Collapsible B survivors, fireman Walter Hurst , tried to reach him with an oar, but the rapidly rising swell carried the man away before he could reach him. Hurst said he was certain this man was Smith. Some of these accounts also describe Smith carrying a child to the boat. Harry Senior , one of Titanic's stokers, and second class passenger Charles Eugene Williams , who both survived aboard Collapsible B, stated that Smith swam with a child in his arms to Collapsible B, which Smith presented to a steward, after which he apparently swam back to the rapidly foundering ship. Williams' account differs slightly, claiming that, after Smith handed the child over to the steward, he asked what had become of First Officer Murdoch. Upon hearing news of Murdoch's demise, Smith "pushed himself away from the lifeboat, threw his lifebelt from him and slowly sank from our sight. He did not come to the surface again." These accounts are almost certainly apocryphal, according to historians featured in the A&E Documentary Titanic: Death of a Dream . Lightoller who survived on Collapsible B never reported seeing Smith in the water or receiving a child from him.

There is also no way in which survivors on Collapsible B would have been able to verify the identity of the individual concerned under such dimly lit and chaotic circumstances. It is more likely based upon wishful thinking that the person they saw was the Captain. Captain Smith's fate will probably remain uncertain. For many years, there were also conflicting accounts of Smith's last words. Newspaper reports said that as the final plunge began, Smith advised those on board to "Be British boys, be British!" Although this is engraved on his memorial, it was just a myth popularised by the British press at the time; Smith was an experienced transatlantic captain and a cosmopolitan, sophisticated man. Had he been prone to this type of jingoistic statement, he certainly wouldn't have been so popular with the prominent Americans and Canadians who preferred to travel on ships he captained and to dine with him while on board. If he said these words to anyone, it would have been to the crew, but not one of the surviving crew members claimed he said this.

Since Steward Brown's account of Smith giving orders before walking onto the bridge was the last reliable sighting, this would make Smith's last words simply "Well boys, do your best for the women and children, and look out for yourselves.” Legacy A message from Captain Smith's wife was later posted outside the White Star offices in Southampton. It read: "To my poor fellow sufferers - my heart overflows with grief for you all and is laden with sorrow that you are weighed down with this terrible burden that has been thrust upon us. May God be with us and comfort us all. Yours in sympathy, Eleanor Smith." Senator Alden Smith paid tribute to the career of Captain Smith, "Captain Smith knew the sea and his clear eye and steady hand had often guided his ship through dangerous paths. For forty years, storms sought in vain to vex him or menace his craft. Each new advancing type of ship built by his company was handed over to him as a reward for faithful services and as evidence of confidence in his skill. Strong of limb, intent of purpose, pure in character, dauntless as a sailor could be, he walked the deck of this majestic structure as master of her keel".

Smith added that the Captain's "own willingness to die was the expiating evidence of his fitness to live." Statue dedicated to Captain Smith at Litchfield, United Kingdom Daniel Allen Butler, described Smith as "Solidly built, slightly above medium height, he was handsome in a patriarchal sort of way. His neatly trimmed white beard, coupled with his clear eyes, gave him a somewhat stern countenance, an impression immediately dispelled by his gentle speaking voice and urbane manners. Respectfully and affectionately known as 'E.J.' by passengers and crew alike, he was a natural leader, radiated a reassuring combination of authority, confidence, and good humor." Second Officer Lightoller remembered him years after the disater as "the best captain he ever knew." A big statue of the captain was put up in Lichfield, England (the diocese where he was born). Many important people attended the unveiling of this statue, including relatives of passengers who perished with the captain. Portrayals Captain Smith in the 1997 Film Titanic Captain Smith is obviously the most important person of the entire disaster. He is portrayed in every single movie.

Edward John Smith : Captain of RMS Titanic (EJ Smith) Link, cite and help Edward John Smith (EJ Smith), 62, was born at Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent on 27 January 1850, the son of potter Edward Smith and Catherine Smith. His parents later owned a shop1. Edward John Smith attended the Etruria British School until the age of 13 when he went to Liverpool to begin a seafaring career. He apprenticed with Gibson & Co., Liverpool. He joined White Star in 1880 gaining his first command in 1887. Among the ships he would command were the first Republic, the Coptic, Majestic, Baltic, Adriatic and Olympic. Smith served with distinction in the Boer war by commanding troopships to the Cape. As he rose in seniority Smith gained a reputation amongst passengers and crew for quiet flamboyance. Some passengers would only sail the Atlantic in a ship commanded by him. 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.

It was therefore no surprise that Smith took Titanic in her maiden voyage in April 1912. This responsibility was rewarded with a salary of £1,250 per year and a no-collision bonus of $200. 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.N.R., most ships flew the Red Duster of the merchant marine. Smith was married to Eleanor and they had a young daughter Helen Melville. The family lived in an imposing red brick, twin-gabled house "Woodhead" on Winn Road, Portswood, Southampton. On April 10 1912 Edward John Smith, wearing a bowler hat and a long overcoat, took a taxi from his home to Southampton docks. He came aboard the Titanic at 7 am to prepare for the board of Trade muster at 8.00. He immediately went to his cabin to get the sailing report from Chief Officer Henry Wilde. After departure at 12:00 the wash from the propeller caused the laid-up New York to break from her moorings and swing towards the Titanic.

Quick action from Smith helped to avert a premature end to the maiden voyage. The unfortunate incident was seen by some as an ill omen and it was reminiscent of the Hawke incident in 1911 when that vessel collided with the Olympic which was under the command of Captain Smith. Captain Smith on the bridge of the Olympic During the voyage Smith normally took meals at a small table in the dining saloon or in his cabin, attended by his personal valet, or "Tiger", Arthur Paintin. On the night of April 14, however, he attended a dinner party held in his honour by George Widener and his family. The party was attended by the cream of 1912 society as it was represented on the Titanic. However Smith was possibly concerned that the ship was entering the ice zone about which he had received ample warnings during the weekend. He excused himself early and went to the bridge. Lightoller was keeping watch and discussed the temperature with Smith far a while. Smith told Lightoller to alert him immediately if he was at all concerned. He then retired to bed. About 11.40 p.m.Captain Smith was awakened by the collision and rushed to the bridge.

He received the report of the accident from Murdoch and then made a quick inspection of the ship with Thomas Andrews. He immediately ordered the boats prepared but wavered when it came to giving the order to load and lower them Lightoller had to approach him for the order which he eventually gave. Surprisingly little is known about Smith's actions in the last two hours of the ships life. His legendary skills of leadership seem to have left him, he was curiously indecisive and unusually cautious. He was last seen in the bridge area having given the final order to abandon ship. He appears to have made no attempt to save himself. His body, if recovered, was never identified. A large statue of Captain Smith was unveiled by his daughter Helen on 29 July 1914 in Lichfield, England. The sculptor was Lady Kathleen Scott (b. 1870, d. 1947) widow of Captain Robert Falcon Scott, "Scott of the Antarctic." A plaque which was placed on Hanley Town Hall in his memory in 1913 was later removed to Etruria Middle School.

Smith's widow Eleanor Sarah was born 17 June 1861, after her husband's death she remained in Southampton for a time but later moved to London. She died after being knocked down by a taxi outside her London home on 28 April 1931. Their daughter Helen Melville Smith, known as Mel, was born in Liverpool and later moved to Southampton with her parents. She was (probably) first married to Captain John Gilbertson of Liverpool, England. Gilbertson died of black water fever on a voyage home from India on board his first command a ship called the Morazan of the Bibby Line. At the time of his death Captain Gilbertson was the youngest captain in the British Merchant Navy. Helen married Sidney Russell-Cooke (b. 12 December 1892, d. 30 July 1930) in 1922 at St.

Mark's Church, Mayfair, they had twin children born at Bellcroft, London on 18 June 1923: Simon, who never married and was killed in action in World War II on 23 March 1944 and Priscilla who married in 1946 to a lawyer named John Constantine Phipps but died from Polio in Scotland on 7 October 1947. Sadly for "Mel" her second husband was killed in 1930 in a hunting accident and her mother died the following year. In spite of her misfortunes Helen Melville Smith led an adventurous life, she drove sports cars and became a pilot. She came to the set of A Night to Remember in the winter of 1957-8 and remarked that Lawrence Naismith, who played her father, bore a striking resemblance to him. Helen Melville Smith moved to Leafield, Oxfordshire in 1934, she died there in August 1973 and was buried close to her mother and husband. Credits Titanic Captain – The Biography of Edward J. Smith Contact Titanic Captain – The Biography of Edward J.

Smith On April 10th, 1912, Captain Edward J. Smith was at the helm of what was considered to be the biggest, most luxurious, and safest ship in the world, when she slowly made her way from her dock in Southampton out to open sea. At the time, Captain Smith had a reputation for being the best captain in the world, and White Star Line was paying him a lot of money as their premiere captain, so take out its vessels such as the RMS Olympic, and now her sister, the RMS Titanic. Because of modifications made when Titanic was still in dry dock, she was a little bit bigger than Olympic, but size did not matter because the greatest captain was in control of her. Edward J. Smith became even more famous on April 15, 1912, when his ship Titanic ignored ice warnings, and was side swiped by an iceberg. However, despite the notoriety he got from Titanic’s both triumph and tragedy, just who was the man that had earned himself a reputation for being the greatest captain to sail the seas? The Early Life of Edward John Smith Edward John Smith came into the world on January 27, 1850 in Staffordshire, England.

Both of his parents worked, but Smith had a love of the sea that finally came to fruition when Smith was 17 years old, and he decided to go out to sea. Because he was always out to sea with one ship or another, he did not marry until he was 37 years old. The marriage to Sarah Eleanor Pennington took place in 1887, and from their loving union, one daughter named Helen was born. After being at sea for a long time, Edward Smith had decided that it was time for him to retire so he could spend more time at home with his wife and teenage daughter. The Commandeer of the White Star Line Beginning in 1895, Edward J. Smith began working for the White Star Line, and was in command of its ship, the RMS Majestic. After four years of service, the Boer War broke out, and Smith and his ship were called into action carrying troops. For his bravery and war-time service, Smith was given a medal from King Edward VII. This medal from the king gave Captain Smith a reputation for being both safe and reliable, which helped him climb up the ranks of the White Star Line.

In a matter of a few years, Smith was considered to be a reputable captain, and there were many people of considerable wealth that loved the way Smith handled things and would not sail anywhere unless he was the one in charge. Because millionaires preferred Smith over other White Star Line captains, he got the nickname of the “Millionaire’s Captain.” By this time, White Star Line began giving Smith bigger ships to command, and the RMS Baltic was considered the biggest ship at the time of its launch. Starting from 1904, Smith was trusted to be at the helm of White Star Line’s ships as soon as they rolled out of Harland & Wolff. After Smith commanded the Baltic, then went on to the RMS Adriatic, and once those two ships had completed their maiden voyages safely, White Star Line then made Smith their Commander. Captain Smith and the RMS Olympic Collision Incident After Captain Smith was made the Commander of the White Star Line, J. Bruce Ismay decided that it was time to go in a whole different direction, and three ships were designed named the Olympic, Titanic, and Gigantic. When the first big ship, the RMS Olympic was ready to go, there was no one more perfect to be in charge of her than Captain Smith.

While the maiden voyage was just fine, and without incident, it was the arrival in New York, a tug got caught up in the bigger ship’s backwash and got damaged in the process. However, three months later, the big ship’s tendency to have powerful backwash happened again, but this time, it was a warship, the HMS Hawke that was the victim, and Captain Smith was in command of the Olympic at the time. Despite the incident, Smith was still in the good graces of the White Star Line, and he was put in charge of the RMS Titanic. The RMS Titanic There was no moment greater for Captain Edward John Smith then when the biggest ship in the world began to leave Southampton, but once again, the powerful engines were too much for a nearby ship, the New York, and the two big ships nearly collided. However, the New York was pulled out of the way just in time, and the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic sailed on into infamy with Captain Smith at the helm, and everyone in the world knows what happened to her only a few days later.

The maiden voyage of Titanic was supposed to be Captain Edward John Smith’s last voyage, and unfortunately, it really was… Titanic's Captain Edward John Smith Captain Edward John Smith joined the White Star Line in 1880 as Celtic I 's Fourth Officer, and in 1887, he gained command of his first vessel, Republic I . The crew of Titanic , together with the management of the White Star Line considered Captain Edward John Smith to be a competent and well-liked man, and casually referred to him as 'E.J.'. The rapid increase in the size of liners had led to mishaps by Captain Edward John Smith , although it must be stressed he was not alone in making errors of judgement with large ships. Whilst captain of Olympic , he collided with a navy cruiser, HMS Hawke, taking Olympic out of traffic for several weeks, and in the same year, whilst manoeuvring Olympic in New York harbour, the enormous thrust from one of her wing propellers had damaged a tug, the O.L Hallenbeck, nearly sinking it in the process. It was all part of an important learning process.

Captain Edward John Smith 's salary was a handsome $6,250 per year, and there was also a 'crash bonus' of $1,000 payable if any vessel under his command were not damaged during the twelve months. Captain Edward John Smith was also a member of the Royal Naval Reserve, and because of this he was entitled to fly the Blue Ensign on any merchant ship he commanded. Now. aged 62, Captain Edward John Smith was to take White Star Line's latest and greatest liner, Titanic , on the familiar transatlantic journey to New York. Some said that it would have been his final trip, as he had planned to retire once back in England. But that was very unlikely, as the White Star Line wanted him to retire on Gigantic's maiden voyage . Captain Edward John Smith on Olympic Captain Edward John Smith on Olympic From 'Sinking of the Titanic' Famous portrait of Captain Smith taken on the Olympic in 1911 and published in 1912 in 'Sinking of the Titanic: the World's Greatest Sea Disaster - official edition - By Thomas H. Russell'. Related Biographies: Coll.

Olivier Mendez, Association Francaise du Titanic Contributor Olivier Mendez Cite this page (1911) Captain Edward John Smith on Olympic Encyclopedia Titanica (ref: #2700, accessed 20th January 2017 05:55:27 AM) URL : Leave a comment Add a new story to Encyclopedia Titanica Contact us if you have a new story or article about the Titanic that you would like to submit. Letter claims Titanic's captain Edward Smith was drunk on the night ship sank | Daily Mail Online comments Drunk? Edward Smith, captain of the Titanic, was exonerated by the inquiry into the disaster, but a newly unearthed account alleges he was inebriated The captain of the Titanic was drunk when the liner hit an iceberg and sank, a newly unearthed document alleges. Captain Edward Smith was apparently seen drinking in the saloon bar of the doomed ship in the run-up to the catastrophic collision. History books record that the white-whiskered skipper was woken in his cabin when the ship struck the iceberg and bravely decided to go down with his ship.

But a previously unseen account by survivor Emily Richards blames Captain Smith for the tragedy and says he was drinking hours before the collision. The second class passenger made the allegation in a letter she wrote home from on board the Carpathia, which picked up survivors from the Titanic, two days after the liner sank. Mrs Richards, 24, and her two sons were rescued after making it on to the lifeboats, but her brother, George, was among the 1,522 people who perished in the Atlantic's icy waters. In the letter, sent to her mother-in-law, Mrs Richards, from Penzance, Cornwall, wrote: 'The boat struck a iceberg at 11 o'clock on Sunday night. 'The Captain was down in the saloon drinking and gave charge to some-one else to stare(sic) the ship. 'It was the Captan(sic) fault. 'My poor brother George ... drowned as far as we know now.' It is widely acknowledged that Captain Smith, 62, spent the evening of the disaster at a dinner party in the first class restaurant before returning to his cabin for the night. But the account given by Mrs Richards provides a striking alternative to his movements on that fateful night.

The document, along with a second letter she wrote home after arriving in New York on the Carpathia, has come to light as the 100th anniversary of the sinking draws near. They are now being sold by Henry Aldridge and Son auctioneers of Devizes, Wilts, with a combined estimate of £20,000. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: 'This was a woman whose emotions would have been incredibly raw having lost a loved one in the sinking. 'She would have wanted someone to blame and clearly she blamed the captain. 'As far as we know there are no other witness reports that put the captain in the saloon drinking on the evening of the sinking. 'So Emily Richards's account is not consistent with the dozens of others that exist. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 'It is very controversial but you can’t ignore the fact she was there. It puts a very different perspective on the events if it is true. 'Captain Smith was largely exonerated by the British enquiry into the disaster and there are numerous accounts of him dying an Englishman’s death by chosing to go down with the ship. 'First person accounts written on Carpathia headed notepaper are incredibly rare.

I think only a handful have emerged over the last 15 years so there is a great deal of interest in this.' Controversial: The letter Emily Richards sent to her mother-in-law from the Carpathia. Along with another letter she sent after arriving in New York, it is expected to reach £20,000 at auction Authentic: The letter, and the envelope it was sent in, bears the postmark of the Carpathia A Titanic expert today said this is the first time she had come across any accusation or suggestion that Captain Smith had been drinking on the evening of the sinking. Una Reilly, the co-founder of the Belfast Titanic Society, questioned why Emily Richards had not made the accusation public if what she had witnessed was true. Mrs Reilly said: 'She may have witnessed the captain in the saloon bar but what he was drinking can't be verified. 'You can't say that she was mistaken because she was the one who was there, but I do find it strange that she did not repeat this accusation later on in interviews and inquiries. 'I have never heard this accusation being cast upon Captain Smith before. 'It was never raised at the two official enquiries into the disaster to my knowledge.

'After the sinking Captain Smith was almost glorified because he went down with the ship, there wasn't that much blame attached to him. 'There was a statue Captain Smith erected in his home town of Lichfield in Staffordshire and if there was any blight on his character that wouldn't have happened. 'I can't imagine that he would have drinking with the passengers.' Doomed: The RMS Titanic steaming out of Southampton before its maiden voyage Mrs Richards and her two young sons, William and Sibley, were on their way to join her husband James, who had emigrated to Ohio earlier that year. She travelled on the Titanic's maiden voyage from Southampton to New York with her children, her younger brother, George, 23, her sister, Nellie, and mother, Elizabeth. After the liner struck the iceberg on at 10.20pm on April 14, 1912, the three women and two children were helped into a lifeboat but George remained on board. Mrs Richards later wrote from Carpathia: 'I hope I shall never see no such thing again. 'It was a dreafull sigh (sic). The water was like a mill pool.

Me and mother and the children where (sic) on the last boat. 'The poor men had to come after. I hope my poor George is save (sic). I thankful to say me and the two dear children are save (sic) and my dear mother and Ellen. 'I have lost all my things...I don’t care as long as I am save (sic) from a watergrave.' In her second later rom the Star Hotel, New York, she wrote: 'George poor boy is gone. 'Willie was dressed in a ships blanket made into a coat the baby has got a cold - but Willie is alright. 'The Americans were kind concerning clothes for the night. This city is a city of mourning.' The letter goes under the hammer on March 31. WAS IT THE CURSE OF THE UNLUCKY MUMMY? OTHER TITANIC THEORIES The accepted reason that the Titanic sank is that the ship struck an iceberg at 11.40pm on April 14, 2012. The impact ripped a hole in the liner's hull and sent water flooding into its first five watertight compartments - one more than the ship was designed to survive.

However, there have been a range of alternative theories put forward, ranging from the possible to the utterly fantastical. Captain L M Collins, a former member of the Ice Pilotage Service suggested in 2003 that what the Titanic hit was not an iceberg but low-lying pack ice. He based his theory on his own experience of ice navigation and conflicting witness statements given at the inquiry into the Titanic disaster that seemed to suggest crew members were tricked by optical illusions pack ice has been known to cause. In 2004, Ohio State University engineer Robert Essenhigh suggested that a coal fire may have been to blame for the Titanic running into an iceberg. He claimed that a pile of stored coal had begun to smoulder and desperate engineers threw it into the furnaces, accelerating the ship to unsafe speeds in the iceberg infested waters. Was it even the Titanic at all? This artists impression shows the Titanic sinking off the coast of Newfoundland, but one theory suggests it was actually another ship sunk as an elaborate insurance scam One of the most controversial theories about the Titanic is that it never sank at all. Robin Gardiner suggests that before its maiden voyage the ship had in fact been switched with its sister ship Olympic, in an elaborate insurance scam.

A year before the launch of the Titanic, the Olympic had been involved in a collision with the HMS Hawke near Southampton. Gardiner suggests that the White Star Line was not insured for the cost of fixing the boat so, in order to save the company from a loss, it was disguised as the Titanic and deliberately sunk to make claim on that boat's insurance. Thus, Gardiner believes the Titanic went on to spend 25 years in service as the Olympic. Even more fantastic is the urban legend that the Titanic was cursed by the mummy of the Priestess of Amen-Ra, who lived in 1050BC. The story goes that after the mummy had been passed around like a hot potato, giving bad luck to whoever had it in their posession, a journalist, William Thomas Stead, bought it and took it with him as he travelled to America on the Titanic. According to the legend, he arranged for the mummy to be hidden under the body of his car, for fear that the Titanic's crew would refuse to take it aboard. He reportedly revealed to other passengers the presence of the mummy the night before the tragedy.

Question: Edward John Smith was captain of which famous ship?
Answer: Titanic