Picture courtesy GALERIA FOTOGRAFICA  

Edward John Smith was the Captain of the Titanic. He was 62 years old, married with a daughter. The maiden voyage of the Titanic was to be his last voyage before he retired.

Smith had retired to his cabin when the ship hit the iceberg but returned to the bridge immediately and sent for Thomas Andrews and the ship's carpenter to assess the damage.

When it was reported that five of the watertight compartments were flooded, one too many to stay afloat, Smith ordered the lifeboats to be uncovered, passengers woken and lifebelts distributed. He also ordered the distress signal CQD to be sent.

Smith's whereabouts at the time of the sinking are unclear. Some sources say that he was last seen on the bridge, while others claim he jumped off the deck at the last minute. 

Edward Smith did not survive and his body was never recovered.

Created July 2002

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