I have recently been watching documentaries about the sinking of the Titanic. I often return to this subject because I find it so immensely fascinating, as do so many others. I wanted to find out about some of the people aboard. We have talked about the Unsinkable Molly Brown and many have heard of Jacob Astor, but who else was aboard on that fateful night? I want to share with you the story of Benjamin Guggenheim, a wealthy American businessman whose actions during the disaster became one of the most remembered stories from that terrible night.
Benjamin Guggenheim was born on the 26th of October 1865 in Philadelphia in the United States. He was the fifth of seven sons. The family had emigrated from Switzerland to America in search of better opportunities. Benjamin’s father was successful in mining and business. Wealth gave him opportunities that many people at the time could only dream of.
He was the first member of his family to attend university and entered Columbia College in 1882. However, academia did not seem to hold his interest for long. He found many of the subjects boring and left before he completed his degree. Instead, he continued his education at Peirce School of Business, where he focused on the practical side of commerce. It was clear that he was expected to work in the family’s business.
In 1894 he married Florette Seligman, the daughter of a prominent banking family. They had three daughters, including Marguerite “Peggy” Guggenheim, who would later become famous as an art collector and patron. Their marriage appears to have been distant at times. Benjamin travelled often for business, he spent long periods abroad. He even had an apartment in Paris. His life moved within wealthy circles travel, and social expectations that kept him constantly on the move.
In April 1912 Guggenheim was one two thousand two hundred and twenty-four people to board the British ocean liner RMS Titanic for her maiden voyage across the Atlantic. Titanic had been promoted as the largest and most luxurious passenger ship. It would be a ship that would have appealed to Guggenheim. He was at the travelling with several other people, including Victor Giglio, his chauffeur René Pernot, and a French singer named Léontine Aubart along with her maid. They had first class tickets as you would expect, so they would have enjoyed the very best of everything. Like many on board, Guggenheim would have expected a comfortable and luxurious journey to New York in what many believed was the safest and most advanced ship in the world.
On the night of the 14th of April 1912, as we all know, the ship hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic. Guggenheim and his secretary were apparently asleep and were woken up sometime after midnight. At first, the seriousness of the situation was not all together clear. Many passengers believed that it was only a minor incident. Guggenheim may well have also believed this, but as the night unfolded, the reality became clear.
Once he was on deck, Guggenheim began helping to evacuate. Witnesses later said that they saw trying to encourage women and children to board the life boats. At some point he returned to his cabin and changed into formal evening clothes. He was said to have explained that he and his secretary had “dressed in our best” and were prepared to go down like gentlemen. It was a moment that has often been remembered as an attempt to face the end with dignity and composure.
Before the final lifeboats were lowered, Guggenheim asked a steward to pass on a message to his wife in New York, saying that he had done his best to fulfil his duty. He continued helping passengers into life boats until the last moments. His companions Victor Giglio and René Pernot also remained on board. Sadly, none of them survived when the Titanic sank in the early hours of the 15th of April 1912. The Titanic tragically took more than fifteen hundred lives with her.
Stories of Guggenheim’s behaviour that night spread quickly. For his family, just like the thousands of others, the loss must have been devastating, but there may also have been pride that he had spent his final hours helping others rather than seeking safety.
When we think about the chaos and fear that must have filled the decks of the Titanic, it raises an interesting question. If we had been standing there that night, not knowing whether we would live or die, what choices do you think we would have made?
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