Frederic Oakley Spedden was a passenger on Titanic.
Background[]
Frederic Oackley Spedden was born on 9 January 1867 in New York City, USA. He was the son of Edgar Spedden and Susan Douglas. His father was from New Orleans, whilst his mother was from New York herself. Frederic had one elder sister who was 8 years his senior: Blanche, born in 1858.
Growing up, he became a banker. On June 6 1900, Frederic was married to Margaretta Corning Stone at the First Presbyterian Church. The reception was at the "Fair Oakes", home to Margaretta's family.
In 1905, Frederic and Daisy's first and only child Robert Douglas was born. The family lived at Wee Wah Lodge, Tuxedo Park, New York. With his job as banker, Frederic had become very wealthy and they lived in luxury. Typically, the Spedden family spent summers in Bar Harbor, Maine whilst during winters, they could be found at various resorts around the world. Frederic loved sailing.
In late 1911 the Speddens sailed for Algiers on the Caronia. The Spedden family had two servants to accompany them: Daisy's maid Helen Alice Wilson and Roberts's nanny or nursemaid, Elizabeth Margaret Burns.
Titanic[]
On April 10, 1912, at the end of their European holiday, the Speddens and their servants boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg for the voyage back to the United Sates, returning home. Mr. and Mrs. Spedden occupied cabin E-34, whilst Elizabeth and Robert had E-40.
On the late night of April 14, Frederic and his wife were awakened by the collision with the iceberg. They noticed that the ship was listing, so they went to rouse their servants. Margaret woke Douglas, telling the boy they were taking a "trip to see the stars." The Spedden party made their way to the starboard side of the Boat Deck, where the women and children boarded lifeboat 3. After all the women and children had been loaded, Frederic, along with about 20 other men, were also allowed in the boat. This way, the whole Spedden family with their two servants survived the disaster. Titanic foundered more than one and a half hour after the party left the ship in their lifeboat.
After the Titanic sinking[]
Their lifeboat was rescued by the Carpathia. On board the rescue vessel, the Spedden family showed numerous acts of kindness, as several fellow survivors remembered. Miss Burns made use of her nursing skills, tending to the injured and shocked passengers on the Carpathia, all the way to New York. She spoke of heroic deeds to the press.
While returning to New York, Frederic Spedden was part of a group of survivors founded by Frederic Kimber Seward. This group honored the bravery of Captain Arthur Henry Rostron and his crew. The Captain was presented with a silver cup with inscriptions and medals were given to the 320 crew members. The group that honored the Carpathia crew consisted of several First Class passengers. They were:
- Margaret Brown
- Karl Howell Behr
- Mauritz Hakan Björnström-Steffansson
- Isaac Gerald Frauenthal
- George Achilles Harder
- Frederic Spedden
Later life[]
In 1915, tragedy hit the family as Douglas died in a car accident in Maine.
Frederic died on February 3, 1947 at the age of 80 due to a heart attack when he was swimming at the Bath Club in Palm Beach, Florida. His wife lived for three more years as a widow, until 10 Feb 1950 when she passed away at the age of 78.
Popular culture[]
Frederic Oakley Spedden featured in the 1997 movie 'Titanic' by James Cameron.
In the film, he appears when Jack sneak onto the First Class promenade on A-Deck, in search of Rose. He moves over the railing unnoticed, when he looks up, he sees a young boy playing with a spinning top as his father looks on. This scene appears to be based on a famous photograph taken aboard Titanic by Father Francis Browne, who was nearby as Frederic Spedden and another passenger are talking whilst watching Robert's playing.
After the iceberg collision, another passenger hands him a piece of the of the berg that some of the passengers have been using to play soccer. This young man is perceived to be Karl Howell Behr. Mr. Spedden later talks to him about the damage done to the ship.
Quotes[]
"No, I missed it. Apparently it hit over there." ~His comment about the iceberg when he speaks with Karl Behr.