This Month in History
The Titanic April 15, 1912
The Titanic, a British luxury passenger liner that sank during its maiden voyage. RMS Titanic was a British passenger liner, which sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, UK, to New York City. The Titanic
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he RMS Titanic, a luxury steamship, Cunard’s Mauretania began service in 1907 sank in the early hours of April 15, and quickly set a speed record for the fastest 1912, off the coast of Newfoundland average speed during a transatlantic crossing in the North Atlantic af(23.69 knots or 27.26 mph), a titter sideswiping an iceberg le that it held for 22 years. Of the 2,240 during its maiden voyage. Cunard’s other masterpiece, passengers Of the 2,240 passengers Lusitania, launched the same and crew on and crew on board, more year and was lauded for its board, more than 1,500 lost their lives spectacular interiors. Lusitathan 1,500 in the disaster. Titanic has nia met its tragic end on May 7, lost their inspired countless books, 1915, when a torpedo fired by a lives in the articles and films (including German U-boat sunk the ship, disaster. the 1997 “Titanic” movie killing nearly 1,200 of the 1,959 starring Kate Winslet and people on board and precipitaLeonardo DiCaprio), and ting the United States’ entry into World War I. the ship's story has entered the public consThe same year that Cunard unveiled its two ciousness as a cautionary tale about the perils magnificent liners, of human hubris. J. Bruce Ismay, chief executive of he Titanic was the product of intenWhite Star, discusse competition among rival shipping sed the construclines in the first half of the 20th cention of three large tury. In particular, the White Star Line found ships with William itself in a battle for steamship primacy with J. Pirrie, chairman Cunard, a venerable British firm with two of the shipbuilding standout ships that ranked among the most company Harland sophisticated and luxurious of their time. and Wolff. Part of a
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20 / The Center Spirit / April 2022
Construction of the Olympic (right) and the Titanic in the shipyard of Harland and Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland.