Commander Edward John Smith (27 January 1850 – 15 April 1912) was a British merchant sea captain and naval officer, best known as the captain of the ill-fated ocean liner RMS Titanic.
Born in Hanley, Staffordshire, Smith joined the British Merchant Navy at age 17 as an apprentice, beginning a long and distinguished mercantile career. In 1880, he joined the White Star Line as an officer and rose quickly to become a captain in the fleet. He concurrently served in the Royal Naval Reserve, reaching the rank of "Commander" and receiving the Reserve Decoration when he was released in 1905. During the Second Boer War, Smith commanded troop transport ships carrying British Imperial troops to the Cape Colony and was awarded the Transport Medal for his services.
A popular figure in the mercantile service, Smith was known as the "Millionaire's Captain" for his social skills and hospitality. He was regarded as the White Star Line's unofficial Commodore, serving as captain on the maiden voyages of several of the company's luxury liners. In 1912, Smith became captain of Titanic and died along with 1,495 others when the ship sank on her maiden voyage after colliding with an iceberg.
Edward John Smith was born on 27 January 1850 on Well Street in Hanley, Staffordshire, England, the son of Edward Smith, a potter, and Catherine Hancock (née Marsh). His parents had married on 2 August 1841 in Shelton, Staffordshire, and later kept a shop.
He attended the British School in Etruria, Staffordshire, until the age of 13, after which he left to operate a steam hammer at the Etruria Forge. In 1867, aged 17, he followed his half‑brother, Joseph Hancock, to Liverpool, where Hancock was serving as captain of a sailing vessel. Smith began his own maritime apprenticeship that year aboard Senator Weber, owned by A. Gibson & Co. of Liverpool.
On 13 January 1887, Smith married Sarah Eleanor Pennington (most commonly known by her middle name) at St Oswald's Church, Winwick, Lancashire. Their daughter, Helen Melville Smith, was born on 2 April 1898 in Waterloo, Liverpool. When the White Star line transferred its transatlantic operations from Liverpool to Southampton in 1907, the family relocated to a red‑brick, twin‑gabled house named Woodhead on Winn Road, Highfield, Southampton.
Smith's mother lived in Runcorn, Cheshire, where Smith himself intended to retire. She died there in 1893. His half-sister, Thyrza, died in 1921. Smith's widow died in 1931 after being struck by a taxi in London.
Smith's daughter married Sidney Russell-Cooke in January 1922, and they had twins in 1923, Simon and Priscilla. Simon, a pilot in the Royal Air Force, was killed in 1944 during the Second World War, and Priscilla died from polio three years later; neither had children. Helen died in 1973.
Smith joined the White Star Line in March 1880 as Fourth Officer of SS Celtic. He served aboard the company's liners to Australia and New York City, where he rose quickly in status. In 1887, he received his first White Star command, Republic. Smith failed his first navigation exam, but passed on his second attempt the following week, and in February 1888 earned his Extra Master's Certificate. He joined the Royal Naval Reserve, receiving a commission as a lieutenant, which entitled him to add "RNR" after his name. In wartime, he could be called upon to serve in the Royal Navy. His ships were entitled to fly the Blue Ensign of the RNR; British merchant vessels generally flew the Red Ensign. Smith retired from the RNR in 1905 with the rank of Commander.
Smith was Majestic's captain for nine years from 1895. When the Second Boer War broke out in 1899, Majestic was called upon to transport British Imperial troops to the Cape Colony. Smith made two trips to South Africa, both without incident, and in 1903 King Edward VII awarded him the Transport Medal with the "South Africa" clasp. Smith was regarded as a "safe captain". As he rose in seniority, he gained a following among passengers, some of whom sailed the Atlantic only on a ship he captained.
Smith became known as the "Millionaires' Captain". From 1904, he commanded the White Star Line's newest ships on their maiden voyages. In 1904, he was given command of what was then the largest ship in the world, Baltic. Her maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York, sailing 29 June 1904, passed without incident. After three years with Baltic, Smith was given his second new "big ship", Adriatic. Her maiden voyage also passed without incident. During his command of Adriatic, Smith received the long service Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve (RD).
As one of the world's most experienced sea captains, Smith was chosen to take first command of the lead ship in a new class of ocean liners, RMS Olympic – again the largest vessel in the world at that time. The maiden voyage from Southampton to New York concluded on 21 June 1911, but as the ship was docking in New York harbour, a minor incident occurred. Docking at Pier 59 under the harbour pilot's command, Olympic was being assisted by twelve tugs when one was caught in her backwash, spun around, collided with the larger ship, and for a moment was trapped under Olympic's stern before working free and limping to the docks.
On 20 September 1911, Olympic's first major mishap occurred during a collision with a British warship HMS Hawke, in which the warship lost her prow. Although the collision left two of Olympic's compartments flooded and one of her propeller shafts twisted, she was able to limp back to Southampton. At the inquiry, the Royal Navy blamed Olympic, finding that her massive size generated a suction that pulled Hawke into her side. Smith had been on the bridge during the events.
The Hawke incident was a financial disaster for White Star, and the out-of-service time for the liner made matters worse. Olympic returned to Belfast and, to speed repairs, Harland and Wolff delayed Titanic's completion to use one of her propeller shafts and other parts for Olympic. Back at sea in February 1912, Olympic lost a propeller blade and again returned for emergency repairs. To get her back to service immediately, Harland and Wolff again pulled resources from Titanic, delaying her maiden voyage from 20 March to 10 April.
Despite the past trouble, Smith was again appointed to command the newest ship in the Olympic class when Titanic left Southampton for her maiden voyage. On 30 March, Smith left the Olympic at Southampton and made a quick trip to Belfast. He arrived in time to take command of Titanic on 1 April, relieving Herbert James Haddock. On 9 April, as Titanic was docked in Southampton, Smith went ashore and stayed overnight at his home on Winn Road to spend time with his wife and daughter. Some sources state that he intended to retire after Titanic's maiden voyage, in order to spend more time with his family.
On 10 April 1912, Smith left his home at 7:00 a.m. The local paperboy, 11-year-old Albert Benham, recalled Smith saying "Alright son, I'll take my paper." Smith proceeded to Berth 44, arriving at 7:30 a.m. At 8:00 a.m., he was onboard Titanic to prepare for the Board of Trade muster. Artist Norman Wilkinson, acquainted with Smith, asked a quartermaster for Smith's whereabouts; the quartermaster took him to the Captain, who was in his cabin. Smith welcomed Wilkinson warmly but said he was too busy to conduct a personal tour, asking a purser to show them around instead. On the bridge, Smith received the sailing report from Chief Officer Henry Wilde and finished his paperwork. After departure at noon, the water displaced by Titanic caused the laid-up New York to break from her moorings and swing towards Titanic. Quick action by the tender Vulcan, which moved between the ships, averted a premature end to the maiden voyage.
On the evening of 12 April, Smith dined with Bruce Ismay in the first-class restaurant on B Deck. The following evening, 13 April, in the reception room, Smith entertained a party by telling them the "ship could be cut crosswise in three places and each piece would float". On 14 April, Titanic's wireless operators received six messages from other ships warning of drifting ice, which passengers had begun to notice during the afternoon.