On April 15th, 1912, one of the most famous maritime disasters in history occurred when the RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Titanic was a luxury passenger liner that was deemed "unsinkable" by its builders and the media. On its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, the ship struck an iceberg at around 11:40 pm on April 14th.
Among the many notable passengers on board was the American businessman and real estate tycoon, John Jacob Astor IV, who was one of the wealthiest men in the world at the time. Astor and his pregnant wife, Madeleine, were returning from their honeymoon in Europe when the tragedy struck.
As the ship began to sink, Astor helped his wife into a lifeboat but was denied entry himself due to the "women and children first" protocol. He reportedly asked for permission to join his wife, citing her delicate condition, but was still refused. Astor then calmly lit a cigarette and stood back, allowing other women and children to board the lifeboats.
John Jacob Astor IV was among the more than 1,500 passengers and crew who perished in the icy waters that night. His body was later recovered, and it was reported that he had suffered a blow to the head, possibly from falling debris. Madeleine Astor survived the disaster and gave birth to their son, John Jacob Astor VI, a few months later.
The sinking of the Titanic and the loss of so many lives, including that of one of America's most prominent figures, shocked the world and left a lasting impact on society. It also led to significant changes in maritime safety regulations and practices.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
