She Survived the Titanic… Then Played Herself on Screen

She Survived the Titanic… Then Played Herself on Screen

I have been learning about the people who were on board Titanic, so today I want find out more about Dorothy Gibson.

She was born on the 17th of May 1889 in Hoboken in New Jersey, sadly her father died while she was still very young. Growing up at a time when opportunities for women were very limited, she found a way to by performing. By her late teens, she was working as a singer and a dancer and she appeared in theatre productions.

Around 1909, she became a model for the well-known illustrator Harrison Fisher. Her image was widely used, and she became known as one of his most recognisable “girls.” Her personal life was complicated, she married but sadly it did not last, like many women of her era, her private life did not always match the glamorous image that was presented to the public.

By 1911, she had moved into the world of film. She became one of the early actresses to be promoted as a star. Her natural acting style made her popular, and she seemed to be at the start of a long and successful career.

She married George Henry Battier Jr. in 1910, but the relationship did not last, and they separated not long after, and eventually divorced in 1913.

In April 1912, after spending a holiday in Italy, Dorothy and her mother boarded the RMS Titanic to return home to America. On the night of the 14th of April, she was relaxing with friends, then everything changed. When the ship hit the iceberg, the shock and confusion must have been immense. She and her mother managed to escape in Lifeboat 7, the first to boat be lowered into the sea. 

Within weeks of arriving back in New York, she wrote and starred in a film based on her experience, Saved from the Titanic. She even wore the same clothes she had worn that night. It must have been difficult to relive her trauma so soon, maybe she felt torn between a professional opportunity and her trauma. She was hugely successful but not long after filming she stepped away from movies, turning instead to music and she later moved to Europe. She went on to have a highly publicised relationship with film producer Jules Brulatour, which brought her both support and unfortunately scandal, because he was already married. She was also in a fatal car accident, where she tragically killed a pedestrian. Looking to distance herself from the gossip, she eventually settled in Paris, trying to reinvent her life away from the spotlight.

During the Second World War, she was living in Italy for a time. Unfortunately she became entangled in political tensions. She was arrested, and even imprisoned for anti-fascism. She did however manage to escape along with two other prisoners, with the help of the Italian resistance.

She spent her final years in France, where she died on the 17th of February 1946 at the age of 56. 

Do you think she ever found peace-or did the weight of those moments stayed with her for the rest of her life?

Servilia: The Woman Caught Between Caesar and the Assassin’s Son

Servilia: The Woman Caught Between Caesar and the Assassin’s Son

I have been learning  about the final years of the Roman Republic, and I wanted to find out just a little about Servilia.

She was born into a distinguished Roman family in around 100 BC, a time when status was everything. Her father was a consul, and she would have been raised to understand how important reputation was. She would have also had political awareness. 

Servilia’s father, Quintus Servilius Caepio, fell from influence after defeat at the Battle of Arausio in 105 BC, and this must have made her more aware than most of the dangers that surrounded politics. She would have learned to be careful. She did go on  to marry into another important family, which would have elevated her position in Roman society but like many Roman women, her marriage was more about creating an alliance than it was about her choice.

She went on to have Marcus Junius Brutus, someone who many of you would have heard of. He went on to become a very famous figure in Roman history. As his mother, she would have influenced his character. It is often said that Roman mothers were more influential than they were given credit for, they would have had a strong influence over their children, including their sons. In Servilia’s case, that influence was very strong.

Servilia also became close to some of the most powerful men in Rome. It is widely believed that she  had a long relationship with Julius Caesar. This relationship would have made her acutely aware of the tensions.

Her son, Brutus, became involved in a conspiracy against Caesar. On the one side was a man that she had been close to, and on the other was her son. Was she scared of what was coming? Do you think  she tried to influence events? Or do you think she just watched as everything unfolded?

After the assassination of Caesar on the 15th of March 44 BC, the world she had knew had begun to collapse. The Republic was thrown into complete chaos, and Brutus would eventually meet his end.

 

Her life shows us that even without power, women like Servilia were influential into the world of politics. Their influence was often unseen, but most definately present. They stood at the centre of the family and the decisions that shaped history itself.

Do you think Servilia had more influence than history gives her credit for, or were women still  powerless in a world controlled by men?

Image info:

Author

: Emile Reiber

Date: 1862

The P-51 Ace Who Fought German Jets and Survived Against the Odds

The P-51 Ace Who Fought German Jets and Survived Against the Odds

I have been learning about the people who served during the wars, and I wanted to tell you about Richard G. Candelaria.

He was born on the 14th of July 1922 in El Paso, growing up during the Great Depression. He sadly lost his father when he was still young age. As a young man, he was drawn to aviation and worked with aircraft instruments while he was studying.

In 1943, during World War II, he joined the United States Army Air Forces. After he had completed his training, he became a fighter pilot and was sent to England, flying escort missions in the P-51 Mustang. In December of 1944, he shot down two enemy aircraft.

On the 7th of April 1945, he encountered advanced German jets and multiple fighters. Despite these overwhelming odds, he still engaged them, he damaging a jet and shot down four enemy aircraft. An incredible feat.

Only days later, he was shot down and he was forced to evade capture. He was exhausted and hunted. He was captured but he later managed to escape and return to the Allied lines.

He was credited with six victories. He received the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and multiple Air Medals. He retired as a colonel.

He passed away in 2024 at the age of 102. 

Hello

Hello to you wonderful people.

I just wanted to say to say check in.

I’m always looking for new directions to explore, so I thought I’d ask- is there anyone, any event, or even a time period you’d like me to discover next? It could be Titanic stories, Roman history, wartime figures, medieval Britain, or something completely different.

I also hope you’re enjoying these posts as much as I enjoy researching and writing them. Your ideas and suggestions always help shape where I go next, and I love seeing the discussions in the comments.

So… where should we discover next? Let’s discover history together.

Irene Colvin Corbett: A Midwife’s Dream Cut Short Aboard the RMS Titanic

Irene Colvin Corbett: A Midwife’s Dream Cut Short Aboard the RMS Titanic

I have been learning about the people who were on board the RMS Titanic, and today let`s find out about Irene Colvin Corbett.

She was born on the 6th of August 1881 in Payson, into a religious and close-knit family. Her father was a Mormon bishop. She trained as a teacher and went on to marry Walter Corbett on the 11th of December 1905 and they had three children.

In 1911, she made the bold decision to travel to London to study midwifery, despite some resistance from Walter. 

In April 1912, she boarded the Titanic as a Second-Class passenger at Southampton, beginning her journey home, probably excited to see her family. When the ship hit the iceberg on the 14th of April, everything changed. Tragically she did not make it.

Back in Utah, her family waited, hoping. The confusion and delay in the sad news must have made the news even more heart-breaking. 

Women of the Roman Republic: Power, Silence, and Influence

Women of the Roman Republic: Power, Silence, and Influence

I have been learning about the Roman Republic, and I wanted to find out about the life of women during this time. 

In the early Republic, women lived in a world that was gave them strict expectations. They were born into families where their future was largely decided for them. They very often married young, sometimes when they were only in their mid-teens, and it was much less about love and much more about alliances, status, and stability. A Roman woman would leave her home and would go and join her husband’s household, she would have been expected to manage the domestic life, oversee servants, and obviously to have children. 

As the Republic grew stronger, the importance of family reputation also became more important. Women became central to this, even if they held no formal political power. They could not vote or hold office, but that did not mean that they didn’t have any influence, it was just more subtle. They influenced their  husbands who did have the power and they raised the future generation of men. Some, like Cornelia, were admired for their intelligence and strength of character. Known as the mother of the Gracchi brothers, she was praised  for her role in raising sons who would challenge the system. 

Over time, especially by the middle Republic, women of wealthy families began to gain slightly more independence. Some by this time could actually own property, manage estates, and even control their own money under certain marriage arrangements. This shift must have brought a feeling of empowerment. The world of women was still watched closely, their behaviour was completely tied to the reputation of their family. A single scandal could destroy not just a woman’s standing, but that of everyone connected to her. It seems that they treated women much like many cultures through history.

By the late Republic, political tensions were growing and Rome was edging ever closer to collapse. This pulled women even closer to the government. Figures like Servilia moved in powerful circles, she was connected to men like Julius Caesar. Their roles were not official, but their relationships and their loyalties mattered. 

At the same time, expectations remained very much the same. Women were still expected to be loyal wives and devoted mothers. It must have caused tension for them, between who they were expected to be and who they felt they were becoming or maybe wanted to be.

How different do you think Roman history might have been if their voices had been heard openly, rather than from the sidelines?

The Marine Who Escaped Captivity, Fought Guerrilla War, and Helped Plan the Bay of Pigs — The Story of Jack L. Hawkins

The Marine Who Escaped Captivity, Fought Guerrilla War, and Helped Plan the Bay of Pigs — The Story of Jack L. Hawkins

I have been learning about another remarkable military figure, and this time I want to turn our attention to Jack L. Hawkins, a United States Marine Corps officer whose career stretched across multiple conflicts and some of the most intense moments of the twentieth century.

He was born on the 25th of October 1916 in Texas, in the United States. As a young man, he chose a path of service, graduating from the United States Naval Academy before joining the United States Marine Corps in 1939. Early in his career, he served overseas in Shanghai and later in the Philippines, where the outbreak of the Second World War would dramatically shape his life.

During the war, Hawkins fought in the Philippines, taking part in the Battle of Bataan and the Battle of Corregidor. After Corregidor fell, he became a prisoner of war under Japanese forces. Life in captivity must have been harsh and uncertain, but he refused to accept it as his fate. In 1943, he was part of a daring escape from a prison camp. Moving through dangerous terrain, he eventually joined Filipino guerrilla forces and spent months fighting behind enemy lines. For his courage and leadership during this period, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Later in the war, he contributed to planning operations for the Battle of Okinawa, helping prepare for the final push against Japan. After the war, he continued his service, advising foreign forces before returning to command roles.

When the Korean War began, he led Marines during the Battle of Inchon and the brutal fighting at the Chosin Reservoir. These experiences must have tested him deeply, commanding men in extreme conditions, and for his actions he received the Silver Star. Across his wider service, he was also awarded the Bronze Star with “V”, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, and the Navy Commendation Medal with “V”.

In the early 1960s, during the Cold War, he was recruited by the CIA to help plan and direct the Bay of Pigs Invasion in Cuba, applying his expertise in amphibious warfare. After a long and demanding career, he retired in 1965 as a colonel, leaving behind a life defined by resilience, leadership, and service across World War II, the Korean War, and the tensions of the Cold War.