RMS Titanic Passenger Lists: Southampton & Queenstown
Could the tragic fate of the Titanic, which sank on the night of April 15, 1912, in the cold embrace of the North Atlantic, have been different? The meticulous passenger lists, born from the echoes of that disaster, offer a haunting glimpse into the lives and circumstances of those who sailed aboard, and they reveal a complex tapestry of human experience, ambition, and devastating loss.
The story of the Titanic is etched in the collective memory. The ship, hailed as unsinkable, embarked on her maiden voyage from Southampton on April 10, 1912, destined for New York City. Her journey, however, was tragically cut short. Five days into the voyage, a collision with an iceberg sealed the fate of many, as the ship plunged beneath the waves. The disaster claimed the lives of approximately 1,503 people, a stark reminder of the perils of the sea and the fragility of life. 712 of the passengers and crew escaped in a flotilla of 20 lifeboats.
The passenger lists themselves are a testament to the meticulous record-keeping of the era, a poignant attempt to document those who sailed, and those who ultimately perished. While the official lists exist, and even they contain errors, these records give us a glimpse into the passengers' class, their origins, their destinations, and their hopes. These lists have become a treasure trove for researchers, historians, and genealogists alike, offering a unique window into the social landscape of the early 20th century. The passenger manifest of the RMS Titanic produced more lists of passengers and crew than perhaps any other journey on record.
The RMS Titanic carried a diverse array of individuals from different walks of life. The ship had first class passengers (324), second class passengers (285), and third class passengers (708). In addition to the passengers, there were also passenger's servants, maids, valets, children's nurses, chauffeurs, and secretaries, mainly to the first-class passengers. The passengers embarked from Southampton, with stops in Cherbourg and Queenstown, before the fateful journey across the Atlantic.
The following table highlights the biographical information for a selected individual from the Titanic's passenger lists:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Passenger Name | Miss Elizabeth Walton Allen |
| Class | First Class |
| Nationality | American |
| Age | 29 |
| Occupation | Unmarried woman |
| Destination | New York |
| Survival | Survived |
| Ticket Number | 11081 |
| Cabin Number | B-5 |
| Departure Date | April 10, 1912 |
| Port of Departure | Southampton |
| Reference Link | Encyclopedia Titanica |
The Titanic passenger lists provide a detailed picture of the travelers. The second class passengers were often from the aspiring middle classes, with many intending to settle in the United States. Among them were notable survivors like Lawrence Beesley and Eva Hart. The third class passengers were equally diverse, with many immigrants hoping to make a new life in America. The list is divided into first, second and third class passengers.
The voyage from Belfast to Southampton, and the short journeys to Cherbourg and Queenstown all contributed to the accumulation of lists. The manifests have evolved and expanded. Those who survived the disaster have their names highlighted, a constant reminder of the tragedy.
While the official lists are a valuable source, it's important to acknowledge their limitations. There were discrepancies, inaccuracies, inconsistencies, omissions, and other mistakes, in both names and numbers. These are not easily overlooked; however, they give us enough information to determine the demographics and outcomes.
The Titanic passenger lists offer a wealth of information. They reveal the human stories. From the opulence of the first-class passengers, to the hopes of the emigrants in third class, each name represents a life touched by the tragedy. The list includes the names of the survivors as well as the victims, and is a reminder of the loss.
The passenger lists include information regarding the departure date, steamship line, vessel, passenger class, and route, these records help us piece together the voyage. The lists contain 27 sheets covering the Southampton passenger list, and 7 sheets for Queenstown.
