Edward Smith
English sea captain of RMS Titanic

Born
January 27th, 1850
175 years ago
Died
January 12th, 1940
85 years ago — 89 years old
Category
Military & Warriors
Country
United Kingdom
Links & References
A sea captain, served as the captain of RMS Titanic during its ill-fated maiden voyage. After years of experience with the White Star Line, commanded several luxury liners. Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, after hitting an iceberg, resulting in significant loss of life. Smith had a reputation for being an experienced mariner before the disaster occurred. His last voyage became a pivotal moment in maritime history, highlighting the need for improved safety regulations in naval transportation.
Served as captain of RMS Titanic
Prior command of RMS Olympic and RMS Britannic
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