When was bruce ismay born

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Search within Show Summary Details. Ismay, Joseph Bruce — Sources W. In , Ismay married Florence Schieffelin of New York, with whom he had two sons and two daughters. Three years later, he returned with his family to the United Kingdom and became a partner in his father's firm, Ismay, Imrie and Company. In , Thomas Ismay died, and his son became head of the family business.

Bruce Ismay had a head for business, and the White Star Line flourished under his leadership. In addition to his ship business, Ismay also served as a director of several other companies.

However, in , he was approached by Americans who wished to build an international shipping conglomerate. Ismay agreed to merge his firm into the International Mercantile Marine Company. Ismay's new type of ship would not only be fast, but would also have huge steerage capacity and luxury unparalleled in the history of oceangoing steamships.

The latter condition was largely meant to woo the wealthy and prosperous middle class. Three ships were planned. He helped get the boat to the davits. There was a certain number of men in the boat, and an officer called out asking if there were any more women. There was no response, and there were no passengers left on the deck. Ismay decided to climb into the collapsible when it was already being lowered away and he escaped alive.

However, his valet, secretary, and Ernest Freeman died in the sinking. Ismay suffered from acute stress disorder during the sinking. He saw and heard nothing, and he was completely taken down. On October 14,, Ismay suffered a massive stroke. He died 3 days later. Ismay was buried in Putney Vale Cemetery, in London.

The myths surrounding Ismay are many but almost all centre on allegations of his cowardice in escaping the sinking ship whilst fellow passengers, notably women and children, were left to fend for themselves. The claims made at the time and repeated today were pushed so that he "saved his own skin" whilst others died.

But, Lord Mersey said at the British Titanic Inquiry : "Had he not jumped in he would simply have added one more life, namely his own, to the number of those lost. Ismay's fault was that he survived and as a consequence laid open to the high and somewhat dubious moral code of the U. Almost universally condemned in America, when he finally arrived home he was cheered and applauded as he descended the gangway at Liverpool.

The British press had treated the whole episode in a far less judgmental way. In a second, more serious allegation, it was claimed he ordered Edward J. Smith, Titanic 's captain, to "make a record crossing," thus indirectly causing the collision with the iceberg.

It is unlikely that an experienced shipmaster like Smith, the highest paid commander in the mercantile marine, would defer to Ismay on matters of navigation. No firm evidence has ever come to light to suggest that Ismay in any way interfered with the navigation of Titanic and, other than talking with the various heads of departments on the ship, conducted himself like many other passengers.

Yet the opposite image of him exists today. All of the negative stereotypes can be tracked back to the American press and in particular to those newspapers owned by William Randolph Hearst , one of the most powerful and influential men in America. Hearst and Ismay had met years before in New York when Ismay was an agent for his company.

The shy and private Ismay disliked press attention and the two men fell out as a consequence of his refusal to cooperate. Hearst never forgot, and in April his syndicated press prosecuted a vicious campaign against Ismay, who was defenseless in the eye of the hurricane. Stories were invented and witnesses, wishing to strengthen exorbitant insurance claims for lost baggage against the company, lied by saying he had in fact ordered Smith to make a record crossing.

Bruce Ismay after the inquiry. S Titanic Titanic Strong negative press came particularly from newspapers owned by William Randolph Hearst, whom some claimed fostered a personal vendetta. Ismay announced during the United States Inquiry that all the vessels of the International Mercantile Marine Company would be equipped with lifeboats in sufficient numbers for all passengers.

Ismay's reputation was irreparably damaged and he maintained a low public profile after the disaster. He did maintain an interest in maritime affairs. Ismay kept out of the public eye for most of the remainder of his life. He retired from active affairs in the mids, and settled with his wife in a large 'cottage', Costelloe Lodge, near Costelloe in Connemara, County Galway, Ireland.

His health declined in the s, following a diagnosis of diabetes, which took a turn for the worse in early , when the illness resulted in amputation of part of his right leg.

He returned to England a few months later, settling in a small house on the Wirral across the River Mersey from Liverpool. Bruce Ismay died in Mayfair, London, on 17 October , of a cerebral thrombosis stroke , at the age of After his death, she renounced her British subject status in order to restore her American citizenship on 14 November During the congressional investigations, some passengers testified that during the voyage they heard Ismay pressuring Captain Edward J.

Smith to go faster, in order to arrive in New York ahead of schedule and generate some free press about the new liner.

Louise Patten , granddaughter of Charles Lightoller , who was the second officer on board the Titanic , claims in her book that Ismay pressured Captain Smith to maintain speed after hitting the iceberg and that this decision caused the ship to sink faster, and that rescuers could not arrive in time to save hundreds that might otherwise have survived. Template:Authority control.

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