He served as master of numerous white star line vessels. Edward smith joined the white star line in march 1880 as the fourth officer of ss celtic. Mustvisit titanic landmarks in liverpool 30 james street. Prior to the lessons in this unit, students will have spent 12 weeks reading, listening to, and discussing expository material on the titanic. Edward john smith 27 january 1850 15 april 1912 was a british merchant navy officer. Smith lived a sailors life and commanded some of the largest vessels in world history, but his reputation would be forever remembered as the man that piloted titanic. Helping kids understand true history includes multiple perspectives.
Smith 27 january 1850 15 april 1912 was an english sea captain. Smith, british captain of the passenger liner titanic, which sank in 1912. Only two centuries before, the district had not existed. We also get to know some of the other prominent people in the titanics story. Lets explore who edward smith was before commanding the titanic. He said hed just been shown the dockmasters log book for 1912. Among the lost was titanics captain, edward james smith, a man who might have been able to provide answers to those looking for them. The second book is master of the titanic which is a biography of the captain by a descendant of his half brother joseph hancock a lady called pat lacey. Smith was to retire after the maiden voyage of the titanic, but he died when the ship sank. His home, just like captain edward smiths home, belongs to the english heritage, and the blue plaque was erected onto the property on 8th january 2001.
Hanley in north staffordshire, where edward john smith, the future captain of the titanic, was born in 1850 was one of six towns that by the time of his birth were known collectively as the potteries. The wreck of the titanic was discovered by robert ballard in 1985. The entries relating to capt smith and the titanic were so extraordinary, he wondered what. Captain edward john smith edward john smith was born in hanley, staffordshire, england, on 27th january, 1850. Born to a workingclass family in the landlocked staffordshire potteries, he went to sea at.
With an exceptional reputation and a description by many of his passengers as being very flamboyant, smith. Of course there have been winter gales, and storms and fog and the like. They found things like a stand that held a beautiful statue. One of the most famous passengers, molly brown, is curiously absent. The crew of titanic, together with the management of the white star line considered captain edward john smith to be a competent and wellliked man, and casually referred to him as e. Historical details are bolstered by illustrations and photographs on every page. Captain edward smith is most famous for his role at the helm of the. Captain edward john smith 1850 1912 was a very experienced english ships captain who worked for the white star line. Born to a workingclass family in the landlocked staffordshire potteries, he went to searead more. Captain smith died when the titanic hit an iceberg and sank in april 1912. Smith was the captain of titanic during her maiden voyage. Irish news and belfast morning news, june 1st, 1911, on the incomplete titanic.
Unfollow captain smith titanic to stop getting updates on your ebay feed. Titanic captain the life of edward john smith by g. Click on the image for a better view of smith, standing onboard titanic. Elicit that morgan robertson wrote his book before the real event happened. The captain can, by simply moving an electric switch, instantly close the doors throughout, practically making the vessel unsinkable. According to certain historians and robert ballards book, the discovery of the titanic, captain smith was on the. The transfer of authority is announced to the crew and noted in the ships log. Captain smith the dockmasters log book ann victoria. Wikipedia the ships captain is unable to fulfill his responsibilities for any reason, the next senior officer assumes command.
On 2 april 1912 the titanic sailed for southampton from belfast. Captain edward james smith was 62 years old when he sailed on the titanic, which would be his last voyage captain edward john. The man who sank the titanic the life and times of. The sinking of the titantitanic lesson plan author. We went to the henry ford museum to see the special imax movie called titanica. Titanic infographic titanic facts history of the titanic. However, smiths last days and in particular his final moments aboard titanic remain shrouded in myth and mystery, from how he dealt with the evacuation of the ship to where and how he died. Regarding mrs russell cooke, captain smith s daughter, i had always understood that in 1925 she married sidney cooke, a stockbroker, and moved into a country house near witney in oxfordshire. The movie was about scientists that go down to the ocean floor, to find things from the titanic. Suitable for 2nd and 3rd grade students of all abilities. Although many believe that his actions lead to the massive ships 1912 sinking and the.
The son of edward smith and catherine hancock, young edward left etruria british school at the age of to join etruria forge to operate a steam hammer. The children also encounter some evidence that the man who was once serial killer jack the ripper is on board. Who was captain smith and what was his role in the sinking of. Smith was born on 27 january 1850 in hanley, staffordshire, england. Titanic captain the life of edward john smith titanic. Smith is most famous for having been the captain of the rms titanic. Smith, ordered the ship to proceed at its maximum speed of 23 knots, or approximately 26 miles per hour 43 km. See more ideas about titanic, rms titanic and titanic history.
A short clip of captain edward smith of the titanic on a 1911 voyage. In 1875 he earned a masters certificate, which was required to serve. Edward attended the etruria british school until the age of when he went to liverpool to begin a seafaring career. He was responsible for over 2,200 lives and more than 1,200 were killed that fateful night of april 14. Prior to teaching this unit, spend 12 weeks building background by sharing and discussing titanic expository material day 1. Here is the 4th and 5th grade on their fieldtrip on the titanics stern. Captain edward john smith joined the white star line in 1880 as celtic is fourth officer, and in 1887, he gained command of his first vessel, republic i. When the boer war started in 1899, smith and the majestic were called upon to transport troops to cape colony.
Distribute copies of your expository article to each student. Captain edward john smith standing outside the portside officer quarters on the boat deck of titanic while she was at southampton during the morning of 10th april, 1912 click to enlarge above and right. Titanic resources ks1 and ks2 captain smith teaching. Encyclopedia titanica use this site to research your passenger titanic universe use this site to. Served three terms as mate aboard the liverpool registered arzilla. In this unit, they assume the roles of reporters, editors, and even. New safety rules were put into place after the sinking of the titanic that required all. Smith, designer thomas andrews, and second officer charles lightoller. He then led the religious service for the first class passengers. The man who sank the titanic the life and times of captain edward j. 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. Smith is probably most remembered for taking the r. Captain smith book encyclopedia titanica message board.
Smith was majestics captain for nine years commencing in 1895. Its story and its lessons father frank brown jesuit priest. The definitive account of the life and career of the respected and popular captain of the titanic includes original research drawing on the ships logs, crew lists, newspapers, and firsthand accounts commander edward john smiths career had been a remarkable example of how a man from a humble background could get far in the world, and this biography tracks the. But in all my experience, i have never been in any accident. Edward smith sea captain 18501912, captain of the rms titanic when she sank edward smith thief, committed one of the first bank robberies in the united states edward b.
Captain edward john smith today i am going to talk about captain edward john smith. Captain edward john smith was born on january 27th, 1850 at hanley stokeontrent, england. This book is as complete a biography of the man as we probably ever will have. Most important, after thirtyeight years service with the white star line, he had an excellent safety record. He was the captain of the rms titanic, and perished when the ship sank on its maiden voyage raised in a working environment, he left school early to join the merchant navy and the royal naval reserve. Smith developed an early interest in the sea and while still a teenager began getting experience working on sailing ships that mainly operated on trade routes between england and the. Sidebars in the book introduce passengers and crew, including captain edward j. According to fourth officer joseph boxhall, he and captain smith. Captain edward john smith got married on january th, 1887. Smith, in full edward john smith, born january 27, 1850, hanley now in stokeontrent, staffordshire, englanddied april 15, 1912, at sea, northern atlantic ocean, british captain of the passenger liner titanic, which sank in 1912 smith began working on boats while he was a teenager. Overconfidence seems to have dulled the faculties usually so alert. Edward john smith he was son of a potter from the backstreets of hanley. Captain edward smith responsible for sinking the titanic.
Smith, 1907, captain, rms titanic best quotations and sayings on such as when anyone asks me how i can best describe my experience in nearly forty years at sea, i merely say, uneventful. Captain edward smith was born on january 27, 1850 in hanley, staffordshire, england. Not only did the rms olympic collide with the hms hawke but five years later many lives would be lost with the titanic although captain smith was not entirely to blame. Smith served as fourth and later third officer aboard the white star s. Captain smith in one of three different photographs taken of him on titanic s forward port boat deck. Captain edward john smith was born at hanley, stokeontrent on 27 january 1850, the son of potter edward smith and catherine smith. Cooper back in print, this popular biography of commander edward john smith is a remarkable example of how a man from a humble background could get far in the world. Local people still remember the titanic captain s daughter. Updated from original post 21st sept 2011 my husband peter had called at the southampton pilots office on a professional matter. It was his plan to retire at the conclusion of the roundtrip voyage. Smith began working on boats while he was a teenager. Smith joined the white star line in 1880 as the fourth officer of the ss celtic. On 10 april 1912 she sailed from southampton docks on her first atlantic crossing to new york.
Bruce ismay, the unsinkable molly brown, and titanic captain edward j. Born to a workingclass family, he went to sea at the age of 17 and rose rapidly through the. This proud, whitebearded man was a natural leader and was popular with both crew members and passengers. He is most noted as the captain of the doomed passenger ship the titanic, which went down in 1912. The command of this great ocean liner was given to the senior captain of the white star line, captain edward j. Based on fact there is a lot of detail about smiths childhood, his early days at sea, marriage to eleanor and his daughter helen. Captain smiths family encyclopedia titanica message board. Students will gain a new perspective when they step back in time to create their very own newspaper page filled with facts about the sinking of the titanic in 1912. As far as i know, her grandchildren still reside in the locality. Like many children of workingclass backgrounds, smith left school. He was married to sarah eleanor pennington from 1887 until. Here is the 4th and 5th grade on their fieldtrip on the titanic s stern. Smiths first command, the 1040 ton liverpool registered ship lizzie fennell.
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