Franklin Dean
The Titanic has become synonymous with the tragic tale of a fictional couple in James Cameron's famous movie. However, there were at least 13 newly-wed couples aboard the ship in real life, with some sources claiming there were 18. The most famous of these was likely John Jacob Astor and Madeleine Astor, due to John Jacob's fortune, his young age in comparison to Madeleine, and the fact that she was pregnant. Other honeymooning couples include Lucian Philip Smith and his wife Eloise, and Daniel Warner Marvin and his young bride Mary.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Honeymoon Couples | 13 |
| Number of Honeymoon Couples in First Class | 7 |
| Number of Honeymoon Couples in Second Class | 2 |
| Number of Honeymoon Couples in Third Class | 2 |
| Number of Honeymoon Couples Where Both Survived | 6 |
| Honeymoon Couples | John Jacob and Madeleine Astor, Victor Penasco y Castellana, Colonel and Madeleine Astor, Daniel Warner Marvin and Mary, Lucian Philip Smith and Eloise, John and Elizabeth Chapman |
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What You'll Learn
The Astors: John Jacob and Madeleine
John Jacob Astor IV and Madeleine Talmage Force were one of the honeymooning couples on the Titanic. They were also the most famous honeymoon couple on the ship, owing to John Jacob's fortune and the scandalous nature of their relationship. John Jacob was one of the richest men in the world at the time, with a net worth of roughly $85 million to $150 million (between $2.77 billion and $4.8 billion when adjusted for inflation). He was 47 years old when they married, while Madeleine was only 18. The couple's parents also disapproved of the marriage, and John Jacob's son from his first marriage, Vincent, despised Madeleine.
The couple had embarked on an extended honeymoon in Egypt and Paris, and in the spring of 1912, they decided to return to America as First-Class passengers on board the Titanic. They boarded the ship at Cherbourg with Madeleine's maid, Rosalie Bidois, John Jacob's valet, Victor Robbins, and Madeleine's nurse, Caroline Louise Endres, as well as their pet Airedale terrier, Kitty.
During the voyage, Madeleine, who was pregnant, became friends with another passenger, Margaret "Molly" Brown. John Jacob, impressed by the ship, pointed out some vital statistics and commented, "She's unsinkable, a modern shipbuilding miracle." Unfortunately, he was wrong, and he perished in the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. Madeleine survived, and on August 14, 1912, she gave birth to a son, whom she named after her late husband, John Jacob "Jakey" Astor VI.
John Jacob's body was recovered on April 22, 1912, and he was buried in Trinity Church Cemetery in Manhattan, New York City. Madeleine inherited a substantial portion of her husband's fortune, including a $5 million trust fund (worth $163 million in 2024) and the use of his mansions in New York City and Newport, among other assets, as long as she did not remarry. However, most of his money went to Vincent, his son from his first marriage. Madeleine later married William K. Dick, relinquishing all claims to the Astor fortune.
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Mr and Mrs Marvin
The Titanic was a luxurious new ship, which must have seemed like the perfect choice for a honeymoon. The ship set sail from Southampton to New York on 10 April 1912. The honeymooners on board came from different countries and backgrounds and had various reasons for choosing to sail on the Titanic. Some were simply enjoying the trip of a lifetime, while others were planning to start a new life in America.
The most famous of the honeymoon couples were likely the Astors: John Jacob and Madeleine Astor. John Jacob Astor was 47 years old, while Madeleine was his 18-year-old pregnant bride. The couple's story is often retold due to John Jacob's fortune and the tragic circumstances of their journey.
Another couple, John and Elizabeth Chapman, had been married at Christmas in 1911 and were travelling back to the US on the Titanic as a belated honeymoon.
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Lucian Philip Smith and his wife Eloise
Lucian, a prominent resident of Morgantown, West Virginia, and a graduate of West Virginia University, was 24 years old when he married Eloise on 8 February 1912. The wedding, held at the Central Christian Church in Huntington, was described by a local newspaper as "one of the most brilliant wedding functions the city ever witnessed".
After the Titanic struck the iceberg, Lucian reassured Eloise that the ship was fully equipped and that he would be given a place in a lifeboat once the women and children were evacuated. He kissed her goodbye, saw her off in lifeboat No. 6, and instructed her to keep her hands in her pockets. Tragically, Lucian lost his life in the disaster. His body was not recovered from the ocean.
Eloise survived the sinking of the Titanic and gave birth to a son, Lucian Philip Smith II, on 29 November 1912. She later remarried to fellow Titanic survivor Robert Williams Daniel in 1914. She died on 3 May 1940 in a Cincinnati, Ohio sanitarium.
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John and Elizabeth Chapman
The most famous honeymooning couple on the Titanic was likely the Astors: John Jacob and Madeleine Astor. John Jacob Astor was 47 years old, and his young bride, Madeleine, was 18 and pregnant. Colonel Astor drowned when the ship sank. Lucian Philip Smith and his wife Eloise were also on their honeymoon, and Mr Smith perished in the sinking. Victor Penasco y Castellana was another honeymooning husband who did not survive. Daniel Warner Marvin was a young bridegroom who did not survive, and his wife Mary's survival is unknown.
The Titanic was a new luxury liner, and the voyage from Southampton to New York was a trip of a lifetime for many of the honeymooners. The newlyweds came from different countries and backgrounds, and some were starting a new life in America. Of the 13 honeymoon couples, 2 were in second class and 2 were in third class. Six couples survived, but in some cases, the surviving spouse was forever separated from their partner.
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Couples from different walks of life
The Titanic was carrying at least 13 couples who were on their honeymoon when the ship sank on 15 April 1912. These couples came from different walks of life and had various reasons for sailing on the Titanic. They represented all three classes on the ship, with two couples in second-class cabins and two in third-class cabins.
The most famous of these couples was likely the Astors: John Jacob and Madeleine Astor. John Jacob Astor was 47 years old, while Madeleine was his 18-year-old, pregnant bride. The couple was in the middle of an extended honeymoon. Unfortunately, John Astor drowned when the ship sank.
Another first-class couple was Daniel Warner Marvin and his young bride, Mary. Mr Marvin did not survive the sinking. Lucian Philip Smith and his wife, Eloise, were also first-class passengers on their honeymoon. Mr Smith perished in the disaster.
The couple outside of first class that has been most published is John and Elizabeth Chapman. Mr Chapman had returned to England after living in the US and Canada, and married Sara Elizabeth Lawry at Christmas in 1911. The couple was taking the Titanic to America as a belated honeymoon.
There were likely other honeymooning couples in second and third class, but most of the information available centres on first-class passengers.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that there were at least 13 couples honeymooning on the Titanic.
Colonel and Madeleine Astor were on an extended honeymoon on the Titanic. Unfortunately, Mr Astor drowned.
Yes, in six couples, both partners survived. One such couple was from Dowagiac, Michigan, and had been warned of the tragedy by a fortuneteller.
Yes, of the 13 honeymoon couples, two were in second class and two were in third class.
Yes, "Titanic Love Stories: The True Stories of 13 Honeymoon Couples Who Sailed on the Titanic" by Gill Paul and Bruce Beveridge is a book that explores the stories of these couples.
