Mr. and Mrs Isidor Straus

By: Ben Huddleston

Mr. Isidor Straus and Mrs. Ida Straus were passengers on the Titanic.  Ida was born in Germany in 1849, and Isidor was born in Germany in 1845.  Later, they immigrated to the United States and lived in New York City.  Isidor was a U.S. Congressman and one of the founder’s of Macy’s department store.  Isidor was business partners with R. H. Macy.  When Macy died, Isidor became in complete control of the store.  Since he was so rich from owning a department store, he was able to buy a first class ticket that cost over £221.  This could be up to $70,000 in today’s money. They had seven children: Jesse, Clarence, Percy, Sara, Minnie, Herbert Nathan, Vivian.  None of their children were on the boat.

In 1912, they got on the Titanic in Southampton.  They shared a first class ticket, number 17483.  Isidor got into Lifeboat number 12 with his wife, but he was asked to get off because men were not allowed to go first. So Ida decided to stay on the ship and said, “We have lived together forever.  Where you are I shall be.”  They put their maid on the lifeboat.  After that, they sat on the deck chairs waiting to die.  They both died on April 15, 1912.  Macy’s then had no owner.  Isidor’s body was recovered, but Ida Straus was lost forever.  There are now four memorials in New York City that are dedicated to them.

Sources Cited

1.                 "Ida Straus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 14 FEB 2008. Wikipedia. 2 Apr 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ida_Straus>.

2.                 "Isidor Straus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 14 FEB 2008. Wikipedia. 2 Apr 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isidor_Straus>.

3.                 “straus.jpg.”  Online image. Straus Historical Society. 04 APR 2008. http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vines/8059/straus.jpg

4.                 "Mr Isidor Straus - Titanic Biographies - Encyclopedia Titanica." Encyclopedia Titanica. 2007. Encyclopedia Titanica. 26 Mar 2008 <http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/biography/288/>.

5.                 "Mrs Ida Straus - Titanic Biographies - Encyclopedia Titanica." Encyclopedia Titanica. 2007. Encyclopedia Titanica. 26 Mar 2008 <http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/biography/289/>.