- Age: 44
- Date of Birth: 18th July, 1867
- Place of Residence: Denver, Colorado
- Embarked at: Cherbourg, France ( List ) on Wednesday, 10th April, 1912
- Ticket Number: 17613
- Price Of Ticket: £27 14s 5d
- Cabin Number: B-4
- Class: First Class Passengers
- Destination: Denver, Colorado
- Survived: Yes ( List )
- Lifeboat Number: No. 6
- Location Buried: Cemetery of the Holy Rood, Westbury, Nassau County, New York
Biography
Margaret ‘Molly’ Brown boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg, France on Wednesday, 10th April, 1912, traveling to Denver, Colorado.
Margaret ‘Molly’ Brown managed to board lifeboat No. 6, and survived the sinking of Titanic.
Margaret ‘Molly’ Brown, or the ‘Unsinkable Molly Brown’ as she would undoubtably be remembered by the history books, was a forthright and often outspoken 44-year old lady from Denver, Colorado, but whose roots lay in Ireland. She was born on July 18th, 1867, in Hannibal, Missouri, she was the wife of James Joseph Brown, the manager of a Leadville goldmine.
During the last few years of the 19th century, with the seemingly abundant gold providing ever increasing piles of wealth, Margaret ‘Molly’ Brown started to mix with the social elite of Denver, but because of her basic upbringing and lack of etiquette, she wasn’t accepted into the cliques and circles, despite her obvious wealth and the trappings it brought.
Margaret ‘Molly’ Brown’s husband, who was still a manager at the seemingly ever-prosperous goldmine, had no interest in his wife’s social aspirations whatsoever, and preferred instead the company of the people he worked with. This eventually drove the pair of them apart, and she moved to Newport, traveling more and more, and picking up the etiquette and style of the seasoned travellers she kept the company of.
Margaret ‘Molly’ Brown became friendly with the Astors, even spending some time in Egypt with them while they avoided the gossips back home. But after hearing that her grandson was very ill, Margaret ‘Molly’ Brown decided to return with the Astors, and her booking on Titanic was a late one.
Margaret ‘Molly’ Brown escaped the sinking Titanic aboard lifeboat No. 6, which was Commanded by quartermaster Robert Hichens. Robert Hichens was acting extremely selfishly, and his newly-crowned importance as Commander of lifeboat No. 6 was causing problems for the people aboard it. Margaret ‘Molly’ Brown, among others, wanted the boat to return to pick up people from the water, but Robert Hichens flatly refused.
Margaret ‘Molly’ Brown tried to grab the tiller, and urged the other ladies in lifeboat No. 6 to row towards the area of the sinking. A burst of arguing broke out, in which Hichens famously swore at Margaret ‘Molly’ Brown, although considering her upbringing, she probably didn’t flinch!
A month after the sinking, Margaret ‘Molly’ Brown, on behalf of the remaining grateful survivors, presented Carpathia’s Captain Henry Arthur Rostron and his crew with a silver loving cup, as seen in the picture here above left. It was the first time that Carpathia had returned to the city of New York since the Titanic disaster, and Captain Rostron and his officers were feted by the grateful city, and the survivors he had rescued.
Margaret ‘Molly’ Brown died on 26th October, 1932, and was buried in Cemetery of the Holy Rood, Westbury, Nassau County, New York.