Daniel Warner Marvin (February 12th, 1894 - April 15th, 1912) was a First Class passenger of the Titanic. He was a wealthy young New Yorker and former Canastotan. He boarded the Titanic at Southampton with his wife Mary Graham Carmichael Marvin as First Class passengers (ticket number 113773, £53, 2s). They occupied cabin D-30. They were returning to New York on the Titanic after enjoying their honeymoon in Europe.
Born on February 12, 1894, he was the son of Harry Norton Marvin and Oramella Lucretia Tackabury. Henry Norton Marvin was founder of the early motion picture production houses of American Mutoscope and the Biograph Company. Daniel's brother was also a cameraman at the studio. The building's previous owner was a member of the Cunard family. The film pioneer David Wark Griffith made his first films with Henry Marvin and his partner. Henry's brother was also a cameraman at the studio.
In the early years of the 20th century, Biograph had a lawsuit with The Edison Group (which was tied to Thomas Edison laboratories) over claims of patent infringment for making films using the Edison Camera. However, Henry Norton Marvin's Company had in their employ, a former employee of the Edison group who had been instrumental in inventing the camera in the first place. He developed another camera, which got around the patent restrictions, and in the meantime, the Business Manager of Biograph, a fellow named Kennedy, had purchased the rights to the Latham Loop, the process that enabled the film to run in a continuous loop behind the lens. The lawsuit resulted in an arranged Association between The Edison Group and Biograph.
Daniel Marvin got married to Mary Farquarson in Manhattan on 8 January 1912. Daniel's marriage was not filmed, however, the ceremony was restaged for the camera. The London Daily Mirror reported it to be the very first wedding to be "cinematographed". They went on to travel to Europe and took passage on the Mauretania.
On the night of the April 14, the ship had struck an iceberg and started to sink. Upon knowing they had to evacuate, Daniel assisted his wife to a boat with the words "It's alright, little girl. You go. I will stay."
Daniel died in the sinking, at the age of 18. His body, if recovered, was never identified. He became a posthumous father following the sinking on 21 October 1912, when Mary gave birth to a daughter Peggy.
On April 15, when the crowds that gathered at the New York offices of the White Star Line for information, there were relatives of both Daniel and Mary Marvin: Mrs Frank Farquarson and Mrs W.H. Marvin learnt that Mary had been saved but there was no word of Daniel Marvin.
In the New York newspapers, a wrong story was published that Daniel W. Marvin was one of the Titanic survivors, and with the assertion that she saw Ismay and Captain Smith drinking in one of the saloons of the liner just before it 'crashed into the great ice mountain.'
Portrayals[]
S.O.S. Titanic (1979)[]
Jerry Houser as Daniel Marvin in S.O.S. Titanic
| “ |
You want to hear something funny? Everyone on the dancefloor is on his honeymoon. |
” |
—Daniel Marvin to Mary Marvin | ||
In S.O.S. Titanic, Daniel was portrayed by Jerry Houser. He first appeared filming his wife walking on the boat deck, and nearly ran over the Countess of Rothes. Later, the couple became acquainted with Henry and Irene Harris.
His wife Mary sometimes complained about her stomach growling (not realizing that she was pregnant) to Daniel.
After dinner, Mary commented that she wanted to always stays on the ship with Daniel.
During the sinking, the couple danced to the music of the orchestra at the Grand Staircase, but they had to part when Mary had to get to the lifeboat. The Countess of Rothes comforted Mary who was crying in the lifeboat. Daniel did not survive the sinking.
Titanic (1997)[]
Daniel Marvin (left) and Mary Marvin (right) in Titanic (1997)
In the 1997 film, Daniel only appeared once during the dinner on April 13, 1912. He was seen with his wife talking with another passengers. His actor is uncredited.
Daniel and his wife were supposed to have a bigger role in the original script, but all of their scenes were cut in the theatrical version.