edward john smith

Commander Edward John Smith (27 January 1850 – 15 April 1912) was a veteran British merchant sea captain and Royal Naval Reserve officer best known as the commander of the RMS Titanic when it struck an iceberg and sank on its maiden voyage. Metric Detail Full Name Edward John Smith Lifespan January 27, 1850 – April 15, 1912 (Age 62) Nickname "Millionaire's Captain" Career Span 1867–1912 (43 years at sea) Final Command RMS Titanic (April 1912) Early Life and Career • Birthplace: Hanley, Staffordshire, England, born to an Edward Smith and Catherine Hancock. • Apprenticeship: Began his maritime career at age 17 aboard the sailing vessel Senator Weber. • White Star Line: Joined the company in 1880 as a junior officer and quickly rose through the ranks to command elite passenger liners. • Royal Naval Reserve: Served as a Commander and received the Reserve Decoration before his release in 1905. Prestigious Commands • Baltic: Commanded what was then the world's largest ship during its unventful 1904 maiden voyage. • Adriatic: Commanded the luxury liner and earned a long-service decoration from the Royal Naval Reserve. • Olympic: Took command of Titanic's sister ship in 1911, which experienced a hull collision with the British cruiser HMS Hawke. • Titanic: Appointed senior captain for the historic Southampton to New York crossing.