Edward John Smith, 62, was born in January 1850 at Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, the son of potter Edward Smith and Catherine Smith. He went to the Etruria British School until the age of 13 and then moved to Liverpool to start a career in the navy. After an apprenticeship with Gibson & Co. he joined White Star in 1880 and gained his first command in 1887. He served with distinction in the Boer war by commanding troopships to the Cape and rose steadily in seniority until, in 1904, he became commodore of the White Star fleet. It was then routine for him to command the line’s newest ships on their maiden voyages so, on 10 April 1912 he took Titanic in her maiden voyage.After departure at 12:00 from Southampton docks the wash from the propeller caused the laid-up New York to break from her moorings and swing towards the Titanic. Quick action from Smith helped to avert a premature end to the maiden voyage. The unfortunate incident was seem by some as an ill omen and it was reminiscent of the Hawke incident in 1911 when that vessel collided with the Olympic which was under the command of Captain Smith.

During the voyage Smith normally took meals at a small table in the dining saloon or in his cabin but on the night of April 14 he attended a dinner party held in his honour by George Widener and his family. The party was attended by the cream of 1912 society as it was represented on the Titanic. He excused himself early and went to the bridge before retiring to bed. About 11.40 p.m.he was awakened by the collision and on reaching the bridge was told of the accident by Murdoch. He made a quick inspection of the ship with Thomas Andrews and immediately ordered the boats to be prepared but wavered when it came to giving the order to load and lower. Little is known about Smith’s actions in the last two hours of the ships life but his legendary skills of leadership seem to have left him because he was curiously indecisive and unusually cautious. He was last seem in the bridge area having given the final order to abandon ship. He appears to have made no attempt to save himself and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

A statue of Captain Smith was unveiled by his daughter Helen on 29 July 1914 in Lichfield. The sculptor was Lady Kathleen Scott widow of Captain Robert Falcon Scott.