James Clinch Smith was born in 1856 on Thursday 3rd April, in Smithtown, Long Island, New York. The town was named after his ancestor Richard 'Bullrider' Smith who founded the place. James' father was a judge, named John Lawrence Smith and his wife, Sarah Nicoll Clinch Smith. They had eleven children. Sarah Nicoll Clinch had a niece who was married to the owner of New York's first department store. Her name was Cornelia Stewart and her husband was A.T. Stewart.
Early life[]
James followed in his father's footsteps and studied law, eventually he graduated from Colombia Law School. In 1878, he began practicing law in New York City. He was very popular in social circles. He was an expert horseman and yachtsman. He was fond of horseracing and played polo.
James' youngest sister Bessie Springs Smith married to Stanford White who was an architect, who would become famous. The ceremony was in 1884. In 1885 he also found a spouse, Bertha Ludington Barnes from Chicago, an accomplished musician and composer.
In 1886 his mother's sister died. It was Cornelia Stewart, the widow who lost her husband 10 years prior. It seems the family Smith fought a battle over the fruits of her will, most notably the estate of this generous lady. Everyone wanted their share of it. Settlement didn't come until 1890, after it had been taken to court.
By 1904 the couple moved to Paris so Bertha could persue her musical career. Smith would visit the USA once a year during the following years.
By 1911 his marriage was in trouble. He never liked his wife's profession.In January 1912, Berta approached him and asking him over to France. Apparently, they reconciled. Bertha agreed to give up her career and move back to Smithtown. At the last minute, Bertha's travel plans changed and James decided to go on ahead, back to the US to prepare his homestead for the arrival of his famous wife.
Titanic[]
He boarded the RMS Titanic at Cherbourg in France. He took his stay in cabin A-7.
Colonel Archibald Gracie knew him and wrote about James Smith in his book he quickly wrote after the disaster.
On the night of April 14, Titanic had struck an iceberg and the ship started sinking immediatly. When it was clear that evacuation was needed, Gracie and James went over to port side to help load women and children on boats.
It's highly possible that James Smith was swallowed by a wave that swept over Titanic's bridge and Boat Deck, around 2:07 A.M. Only Gracie made it on the Collapsible B which aided him in surviving the ordeal. Smith's body was lost to the sea.
He commended Smith later on his bravory and selflessness, when creating his memoires.
It was only a year later that Bertha Burns also passed away. She was in Switzerland when she was struck by tuburcolosis on 19 August 1913. However it was said that her broken heart is what helped cause her death.