(Joseph) Bruce Ismay was Chairman of the White Star Line. He was 49 years old, married with four children. Ismay always accompanied White Star Line ships on their maiden voyage and Titanic was no exception.

Competition for the Atlantic run was fierce and Ismay was keen to show that Titanic was superior to Cunard's liners, Lusitania and Mauritania. Some sources indicate that Ismay put pressure on Smith to maintain speed.

Ismay helped the crew uncover and load lifeboats but then boarded lifeboat collapsible C before all women and children had been evacuated. An act that earned him the nickname J 'Brute' Ismay by the American and British press.

Ismay died in 1937.

Created July 2002

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