When the Titanic ship was due to set sail in April 1912, it became a global phenomenon. Upon completion, the RMS Titanic was the largest floating ship ever built and designed as a high-watermark of convenience and luxury. Rounding out its amenities, the ship featured restaurants, Turkish baths, gymnasiums, and hundreds of high-class suite cabins. Though aspects of the ship seem quaint in the modern world, it’s hard to fathom just how innovative and luxurious the Titanic appeared at the time. Besides its amenities, the ship featured 48 lifeboats fastened to its sides. While impressive, these boats could only hold about half of the passengers slated for their maiden voyage.
Whatever the specifications, much of the elite class sought passage on the one-of-a-kind liner for status and novelty. Though the Titanic was considered “too big to fail,” it did just that, crashing into an iceberg near Greenland, sinking, and killing 1,500 hundred passengers. While many famous figures died on the ship, including Macy’s owner Isidor Straus, others got very lucky. Through circumstance, accident, or sheer luck, several famous figures were supposed to be on the Titanic but missed the voyage. In this article, we will explore some of the famous figures who, by a twist of fate, avoided death from the sinking of the Titanic.
To compile a list of famous figures who were supposed to be on the Titanic, 24/7 Tempo consulted various historical and entertainment sources including History Collection, The Smithsonian Magazine, and Ancestry.com. Next, we selected figures slated to travel on the Titanic who made some kind of public impact. After that, we confirmed aspects of each story using sites like Britannica. (For other ill-fated cruises, discover the most famous shipwrecks ever discovered.)
Theodore Dreiser
One of the famous figures who were supposed to be on the Titanic was journalist and novelist Theodore Dreiser. His career began with writing jobs for various big-city newspapers including the Chicago Daily Globe. After that, Dreiser made his name as a novelist with naturalist works like “Sister Carrie.”
His most relevant work, however, was his memoir, “A Traveler at Forty.” In the book, Dreiser describes his turn of fate regarding the Titanic disaster. Though he had tickets for the liner, hoping to see how the other half lived. His publisher, however, convinced him to take the Kroonland ship home to America since it was a cheaper voyage. As such, he missed the Titanic disaster by two days.
In his memoir, Drieser described the triumph and terror of the Titanic. He wrote, “To think of a ship as immense as the Titanic, new and bright, sinking in endless fathoms of water. And the two thousand passengers routed like rats from their berths only to float helplessly in miles of water, praying and crying!”
John R. Mott
Another one of the famous figures who were supposed to be on the Titanic is John Raleigh Mott. A tireless evangelist, Mott acted as the long-serving leader of organizations like the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) and the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA). Later in life, Mott received the Nobel Peace Prize for promoting peace through Protestant Christian student organizations.
Before that, Mott held tickets for the infamous Titanic voyage. He opted for the Lapland ship ride, instead, which saved his life. Upon hearing news of the ship’s sinking, Mott reportedly said, “The Good Lord must have more work for us to do.” This wasn’t his only brush with death, however. A few decades later, Mott nearly avoided a fatal train crash.
Milton Hershey
By the time the Titanic crashed into an iceberg and sank, Milton Hershey was already a successful, well-respected businessman. After starting the successful Lancaster Caramel Company, Hershey sold it to fund a new milk chocolate company, The Hershey Chocolate Company. The firm’s mass-produced chocolate bars were so popular, that Hershey built a company town in Pennsylvania.
As a wealthy man, Hershey and his wife spent their summers on the French Riviera. For their return trip home, Hershey bought tickets for the Titanic’s maiden voyage. Pressing business dealers, however, caused Hershey to cut his family’s vacation short. Instead, they traveled stateside on the German liner, the Amerika. Coincidentally, the Amerika was the ship that tried to warn the Titanic about the dangerous icebergs in the area where the Titanic sank.
J. Pierpont Morgan
Another one of the famous figures who were supposed to be on the Titanic is J. Pierpont Morgan. A titan of industry and investment, Morgan ran the immensely powerful banking firm J.P. Morgan and Co. Besides that, he also spearheaded the formation of multinational corporations like General Electric and U.S. Steel. Furthermore, he owned the International Mercantile Marine, which owned the shipping line that owned the Titanic ship.
Though he was slated to travel on the Titanic’s maiden voyage, something made him change his mind. Sources differ on the reason, however, with some saying bad health and others suggesting trouble with customs due to his extensive art collection. Whatever the case, J.P. Morgan narrowly missed tragedy. Upon hearing news of the ship’s sinking, Morgan said, “Monetary losses amount to nothing in life. It is the loss of life that counts. It is that frightful death.”
(For other American icons with a mixed reputation, discover 24 of the most hated Americans in history.)
Guglielmo Marconi
Another one of the famous figures who were supposed to be on the Titanic is Guglielmo Marconi. A businessman, inventor, and electrical engineer, Marconi found international fame after inventing the radio wave-based wireless telegraph system. A precursor to the modern radio, the invention earned Marconi the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics. After that, he became a businessman, spreading his radio invention far and wide.
According to his daughter, Marconi was slated to ride on the Titanic’s first voyage. As she reported in her memoir, “My Father, Marconi,” someone offered Marconi a free ticket for the trip. His stenographer became seasick, however, so Marconi opted for the Lusitania ship instead. Curiously, he became known as a hero of the Titanic disaster because his wireless radio invention helped nearby ships find Titanic lifeboats.
Henry Clay Frick
As a financier, industrialist, and art patron, Henry Clay Frick moved in elite circles. After founding the H. C. Frick & Company coke manufacturing firm, Frick branched out to other businesses. He became chairman of the Carnegie Steel Company, where he played a role in the formation of the U.S. Steel conglomerate. In the contemporary era, however, Frick is best known for his art museum in Manhattan, the Frick Mansion.
Back in 1911, Frick was traveling around Europe with his wife searching for valuable art and other collectibles. Though they had booked a suite on the Titanic, Frick’s wife sprained her ankle, causing the couple to stay behind so she could receive medical care. The managing director of the Titanic’s company, J. Bruce Ismay took the tickets instead. Though he managed to survive after jumping on a lifeboat, the public criticized him for his survival for the rest of his life.
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt
http://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/772705
Another one of the famous figures who were supposed to be on the Titanic is Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt. As a member of the incredibly wealthy Vanderbilt family, he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Career-wise, he acted as director for various Railway companies. He is best known, however, for building the Vanderbilt Hotel on Park Avenue in Manhattan.
Reports differ on whether Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt or his uncle George Washington Vanderbilt II narrowly escaped the Titanic disaster. Whatever the case, Alfred Gwynne traveled on the Lusitania a few years later. Tragically, a German U-boat sunk the ship, killing 1,200 passengers on board including Vanderbilt.
Robert Bacon
Another one of the famous figures who were supposed to be on the Titanic is Robert Bacon. He started his career as a banker, working closely with figures like J.P Morgan. From there, Bacon transitioned to a life of politics and served as the United States Secretary of State in the first half of 1909. After that, he was appointed Ambassador to France, a position he served between 1909 and 1912.
Seeking to return to America for an academic career, Bacon booked tickets on the Titanic for his wife and their four children. His replacement for Ambassador to France, Myron T Herrick, however, showed up late. As such, the Bacon family was forced to travel back to America on the SS France. Either way, that delay most likely saved their lives.
Edgar Selwyn
Another one of the famous figures who were supposed to be on the Titanic is Edgar Selwyn. An actor, director, and theater manager by trade, Selwyn became a prominent figure on the Broadway scene in the first half of the 20th century. After running several successful theater companies, Selwyn transitioned to Hollywood. He is best remembered as the co-founder of Goldwyn Pictures (now part of MGM).
At the time of the Titanic, Selwyn and his wife had tickets but were committed to seeing the reading of a new play in Paris. While his friends tried to pressure Selwyn into making the maiden voyage, he was a committed patron of the theater, opting to delay his trip home to see the new play instead. Whether the premier was good or bad, Selwyn likely saved his and his wife’s lives.
Rev. J. Stuart Holden
To get there, Holden booked first-class tickets for the Titanic’s maiden voyage. Just days before the trip, however, his wife fell seriously ill. Regretfully, Holden canceled his trip but became filled with gratitude after hearing of the Titanic’s fate. In response, Holden eventually mounted his Titanic ticket in a frame, adding an inscription from Psalm 103, verse 3, which said, “Who Redeemeth Thy Life From Destruction.”
Baron Moritz von Bethmann
Another one of the famous figures who were supposed to be on the Titanic is Baron Moritz von Benthmann. As the scion of Germany’s biggest banking family for centuries, von Benthmann had the leisure of traveling extensively with his friends around the world. He was doing just that in 1912, traipsing through Europe with two friends.
Seeking passage to the United States, von Bethmann and his friends considered taking the maiden voyage of the Titanic. He didn’t want to wait that long, however, while his friends did. The group settled their disagreement by betting on whether to travel on the giant ship through a coin toss. Whoever won the brief game of chance no doubt saved the lives of von Bethmann and company.
(For well-known names who ran into financial misfortune, discover famous figures who died virtually penniless.)