Sir Cosmo and Lady Duff Gordon
By: Haley Sloan

The Gordons were one of the richest couples on the Titanic.  Lady Duff Gordon was born on June 13, 1863 in London, England.  Lady Duff Gordon’s first name was Lucille.  She was most commonly known as Lucy.

Her job as an adult her job was a clothes designer. One of the things she said was, “Put even the plainest woman in a beautiful dress and unconsciously she will try to live up to it.” (Greer , 19) Lucille had a very successful career.  She was a very popular designer.    

Sir Cosmo Gordon was born on July 22, 1862 in London, England.  He was called Cosmo.  His job was working at a wine company.  He was already very rich when he met Lady Duff Gordon and her wealth made him even richer.  They got married in the 1900’s.

Together they traveled on the RMS Titanic under the names Mr. and Mrs. Morgan.  They traveled as first class passengers.  They were traveling because Lucille’s company wanted to open stores in Chicago and New York.  Their secretary, Laura Mabel Francatelli, traveled with them.  During their first meal Lady Duff Gordon said, “Fancy strawberries in April, and in mid-ocean.  The whole thing is positively uncanny.  Why, you would think you were at the Ritz.(The Quotations Page)” 

As the Titanic was sinking they were some of the first people into a lifeboat. At first they refused to get on the life boats, they were convinced the boat was unsinkable.  All three of them were on life boat one.  Their life boat was meant for forty people, but it only held twelve.  They were picked up in the Carpathia, glad for warm blankets and a place to sleep.

When they got to New York Lady Duff Gordon’s and Sir Cosmo Gordon’s careers went well.  Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon died on April 20, 1931 at age 69 of old age and Lady Duff Gordon on April 20, 1935 at age 72 of breast cancer.

Citations

Geller, Judith B.Titanic Women and Children First. First. London: Haynes Publishing, 1998.

"Sir Cosmo Edmund Duff Gordon." Encyclopedia Titanica. 1 Apr 2008 <http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/biography/100/>.

"PERSONAL- Lady Duff Gordon." Encyclopedia Titanica. 1 Apr 2008 <http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/item/4647/>.

"Lucy, Lady Duff-Gordon." Wikipedia. 1 Apr 2008 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Lucy_Duff_Gordon>.

"Lady Duff Quotations." The Quotations Page. 1 Apr 2008 <http://www.quotationspage.com/author.php?author=Lady+Duff-Gordon>.

"Cosmo Duff Gordon." Wikipedia. 1 Apr 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmo_Duff_Gordon>.

“Lady Duff Gordon”. Online image. Encyclopedia Titanica. April 15, 2008.  <http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/biography/>

“Lady Duff Gordon and Sir Cosmo”. Online image. Encyclopedia Titanica. April 15, 2008. <http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/biography/>