WT Stead was not the only famous person who perished on the Titanic. When the ‘unsinkable’ Titanic slipped beneath the Atlantic, it took more than just a ship to the bottom; it claimed some of the most powerful minds and fortunes of the 20th century.
However, there were not as many as one might expect; this was largely due to the significantly higher survival rate of first-class passengers compared to those in third class. Most of the well-known individuals on board held first-class tickets.
Of the 324 first-class passengers, 201 survived. In stark contrast, just 181 out of 708 third-class passengers made it to safety. This disparity highlights the era’s rigid class divide, a reality made even more tragic by the fact that several lifeboats were lowered while only half-full.
Here are eleven first-class passengers who were among the 123 from their deck who perished on that fateful night of 15th April 1912.
