Bruce Ismay
Joseph Bruce Ismay was born on December 12, 1862. After his basic education, he spent about a year in France with a private tutor. After that, he became an apprentice to his father, Thomas Henry Ismay, for four years. Thomas had bought the White Star Line. It was originally an Australian company, but it went bankrupt. After Bruce's apprenticeship, Bruce went on a year-long world tour. He then became the chairman and managing director of White Star Lines. After his father's death, the stock in the White Star Line began to be dominated by a company owned by J. P. Morgan, the New York business tycoon. He was also the owner of Red Star Lines, which actually showed up in the movie. During the scene in Southampton, if you look next to the White Star Line building, there's one that says Red Star Line. Ismay was the one in charge at the time the company decided to go for luxury in their ships instead of speed. Ismay was married to Julia Florence (usually referred to as "Florence") of New York. They had four children: two boys and two girls.
| Though Ismay was in attendance for the Titanic's departure from the shipyard, he wasn't able to attend her trials. He did, however, get complimentary tickets for the maiden voyage. He was in the parlour suite, rooms B52, 54, and 56 (flashbacks to the movie? Yup, he was in Rose's suite! Scandalous isn't it? Kidding, for those of you who don't do that sarcasm stuff :-). His manservant was Richard Fry. Ismay was the one who got the musicians listed as second class instead of as crew. Their union had complained about the pay of the musicians, so Ismay said if the shilling they got for being listed as crew wasn't good enough, they could be listed as passengers instead. He's basically said to have shifted between crew-status and passenger status. He was only on the bridge two times during the voyage: once at the beginning to wish Captain Smith and the crew well, and a second time after the collision. Whether he was responsible for the speed of the Titanic or not is an issue that's still debated. Remember the scene in the movie where Ismay is puffing his cigarette and telling Smith to go faster? :-) Well, there's a lady in the background of that scene. In real life, a lady overheard him talking with Captain Smith about their speed. Also, Ismay was said to have taken one of the iceberg warnings (the one from the Athinai from Captain Smith and discussed it over dinner. |  "So you've not yet lit the last 4 boilers?" |
 Jonathan Hyde as Ismay | When the Titanic struck the iceberg, Ismay was asleep. Awakened by the collision, he put on his robe and slippers and went to see what the problem was. He was told the ship would sink. ("She's made of iron sir. I assure you, she can!" I love Mr. Andrews' line there! :-) Ismay then became rather nervous, as is understandable. Walter Lord had an amusing little descpription of some of the things he did in A Night to Remember: |
 | On the starboard side things moved a little faster. But not fast enough for President Ismay, who dashed to and fro, urging the men to hurry. "There's no time to lose!" he urged Third Officer Pitman, who was working on Boat 5. Pitman shrugged him off--he didn't know Ismay and he had no time for an officious stranger in carpet slippers. Ismay told him to load the boat with women and children.... "As No. 5 creaked downard, Bruce Ismay was beside himself. 'Lower away! Lower away! Lower away! Lower away!' he chanted, waving one arm in huge circles while hanging on to the davit with the other. " 'If you'll get the hell out of the way,' exploded Fifth Officer Lowe whow as working the davits, 'I'll be able to do something! You want me to lower away quickly? You'll have me drown the whole lot of them!' "Ismay was completely abashed. Without a word he turned and walked forward to No. 3..." | |
| Ismay escaped in Collapsible C. Though he has taken a lot of blame for this, it's rather likely that no one else was on hand to get in at the time. Another fact that no one mentions much is that he was accompanied by another man, William Carter. Also, boat C was the last boat to leave on the starboard side. So it's not like he just jumped ship the moment he could. After the Carpathia picked up the survivors, Ismay was sent to Dr. McGee's cabin--he was diagnosed as being in severe shock. After the ship got back to New York, Ismay was a witness in the Senate investigation and later in the British inquiry. Although he was found innocent, he became a scapegoat, and the press attacked him vehemently, calling him things like "J. Brute Ismay". They city of Ismay, Texas, changed its name. He still gets called "the man who sunk the ship" in movie theatres (I've sat in front of people who refer to him as that :-). He was totally ruined after the disaster. He had been planning to retire anyway, but now he was forced into it. He spent most of the rest of his life in his estate in North Ireland. He could be seen on park benches, chatting with the down-and-out anonymously. He donated 11 thousand pounds to the Marine Widows' Fund. Due to a diabetic complication, his right leg had to be amputated. On October 17, 1937, he died of a heart attack at his home in London. He was known to the world as a cold, unchivalrous man, but those who knew him best said he was shy, sensitive, and understanding. I think he's one of the most misunderstood people in history. |  |
