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For more information on the Titanic first class and other 20th century maritime history of the North Atlantic, see The Hunt for Hitler’s Warship © 2015 by Patrick Bishop. It is available now from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.


The maiden voyage of the Titanic had attracted a number of rich passengers, which made up the Titanic first class. A first class parlour suite cost £870 while a first class berth cost £30.

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The following are some of the more well-known first class travellers.

John Jacob Astor

The richest passenger aboard was multi-millionaire John Jacob Astor. He was travelling with his second wife, Madeleine, who was five months pregnant. JJ Astor did not survive but his wife did.

Benjamin Guggenheim

  

Millionaire Benjamin Guggenheim was travelling on the Titanic with a lady friend. His wife and family were at home in New York. Guggenheim and his manservant helped women and children into lifeboats. When all the boats had gone they changed into their best clothes and prepared to “Die like gentlemen.”

Sir Cosmo and Lady Duff Gordon

 

Lady Duff Gordon was a notable dress designer whose clientele included Isadora Duncan, Oscar Wilde and the British royal family. The Duff Gordons both survived but were called to testify at the court of inquiry and explain why their boat contained only twelve people. During the inquiry they were accused and cleared of bribing crew members not to allow more people into the boat.

The ‘Unsinkable’ Molly Brown

Molly was the daughter of a poor Irish immigrant family whose husband struck rich when mining for silver. She was travelling home to America aboard the Titanic. She survived the disaster in lifeboat number 6 and earned her nickname because she took control of the boat, kept the women rowing for seven hours and gave her furs to keep others warm.

Isador and Ida Straus

  

Isador Straus was a partner of Macey’s department store, New York. He and his wife were returning from a European holiday. Both died on the Titanic. Ida nearly got into lifeboat number 8 but refused saying to her husband “We have been living together for many years. Where you go, I go.”

There were 325 first class passengers on board – 175 men, 144 women and 6 children.

202 first class passengers survived – 57 men, 140 women and 5 children.

 

This article is part of our larger selection of posts about the Titanic. To learn more, click here for our comprehensive guide to the Titanic.

 


For more information on the Titanic first class and other facts about 20th century maritime history of the North Atlantic, see The Hunt for Hitler’s Warship © 2015 by Patrick Bishop. To order this book, please visit its online sales page at Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

You can also buy the book by clicking on the buttons to the left.

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Cite This Article
"The Titanic First Class: Profile of Passengers" History on the Net
© 2000-2024, Salem Media.
March 27, 2024 <https://www.historyonthenet.com/the-titanic-first-class-passengers>
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