John Stewart was a First Class steward aboard the Titanic.
Background[]
John Stewart was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on November 11, 1883.
On 7 October 1911 he got married to Mabel Annie Blyth. They lived together in Southampton, where she was born. Their first child, Gwendoline Ethal Rosaline, was born on 5 June 1909. Their daughter was often just referred to as 'Gwen.'
Titanic[]
He was aboard the Titanic for her delivery trip from Belfast to Southampton. He had worked on her sister ship just before that, the Olympic. As a First Class Verandah Court Steward he received monthly wages of £3,15s.
He survived the sinking, according to himself in lifeboat 15, except John Hart, a Third Class Steward who knew Stewart well, never reported seeing him there. He was inadvertently carrying the Veranda Café keys with him in his pocket, since he was responsible for that Room. There is a passengerlist that has him placed in lifeboat 14, which was launched way earlier than number 15.
He is best known for seeing Thomas Andrews in the First Class Smoke Room, as he later recalled It is often claimed to be the last sighting of Andrews, although there's other stories that state otherwise. Especially since it's unclear when Stewart left the ship and in which lifeboat.
According to Steward, the ship's designer had his arms folded over one another, his lifejacket discarded on a nearby table. Stewart asked: "Aren't you going to try for it, Mr. Andrews?" Andrews didn't reply and didn't even seem to hear the question. Stewart left the room. This scene was altered in the 1979 film 'S.O.S. Titanic' where the stewardess Mary Sloan asked the same question and had a little conversation with him before leaving; meanwhile in 'Titanic' (1997), Rose is who makes him that question, which became famous thanks to the film.
Later life[]
A second daughter, Florence Mary 'Mollie', was born to John and Mabel in the last months of 1912.
Having a further few years of his career in the White Star Line, he changed profession and became a driver. Then he enlisted for duties in World War 1 in 1915. On April 1st, 1916, he joined the forces in the Army Medical Corps. After the war his wife ran a public house with him on the on Portswood Road, Southampton, It was named Richmond Inn which is still in operation today.
He passed away on 16 April 1946 in Southampton after a protracted illness.
The First Class Smoke Room, where Stewart famously saw Thomas Andrews
Portrayals[]
A Night to Remember (1958)[]
Victor Wood as John Stewart in A Night to Remember (1958)
John Stewart asked Thomas Andrews: "Aren't you going to try for it, Mr. Andrews?" in A Night to Remember (1958)
John Stewart was portrayed by Victor Wood in A Night to Remember (1958). He appears in one scene, which recreates his sighting of Thomas Andrews in the First Class Smoke Room. However, the scene takes place during the final moments, which isn't possible since he left the ship in one of the lifeboats a lot earlier.