Mr. Joseph Bruce Ismay

By: Brian Metcalf

Joseph Bruce Ismay was born on December 12, 1862 to Thomas Ismay and Margaret Bruce.  He was born in Crosby, Lancashire, England, and educated at Elstree School and Harrow.  Ismay was later married to Laura Florence Schieffelin, and they had five children, one of which died in early childhood.  Ismay worked as the owner of the White Star Line of steamboats after his father died in 1899. 

 He traveled on many of his ships maiden voyages, the most famous of which is the Titanic.  The Titanic launched and sunk in April 1912.  He traveled as a first class passenger with a free ticket, and embarked at Southampton, England.  When the Titanic sank, he chose to get on a lifeboat before all the women and children were off.  The result of this is that he had bad publicity for the rest of his life, and was labeled by the London Society as one of the worst cowards in history. 

After the Titanic, Ismay went between his houses in Ireland and Europe. He was put to trial by the US Senate and the British Board of Trade.  Not many people were close to him, and those that were close to him were not allowed to mention “Titanic” in his presence.

Joseph Bruce Ismay died in Mayfair, England on October 15, 1937. His cause of death was a cerebral thrombosus, which causes a stroke.  His funeral was six days later on October 21. 

 Sources Cited

“J. Bruce Ismay.” Online Image. BBC.Co.UK. 2 April 2008. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/britain_wwone/
images/titanic_joseph_bruce_ismay.jpg>

 “J. Bruce Ismay.” Online Image. Euronet.nl. 2 April 2008.< http://www.euronet.nl/users/keesree/ismay.jpg>

 "J. Bruce Ismay." Wikipedia. 02 Apr 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Bruce_Ismay>.

 Mr Joseph Bruce Ismay." Encyclopedia-Titanica. 02 Apr 2008 <http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/biography/171/>.