Mauritz Håkan Björnström-Steffansson was a First Class Passenger on the Titanic.
Background[]
He was a Swedish businessman.
Titanic[]
He survived the sinking by jumping on the last moment in Collapsible D. He would go on to file the largest claim by for financial compensation that was made against White Star Line, for his loss of a single item of luggage or cargo. At the time of the sinking he was 28, and was born on 9 November 1883 in Österfärnebo, Sweden, as the son of Erik Samuel Steffansson and Berta Maria Björnström.
The item that was lost was a large neoclassical and most beautiful painting named La Circassienne au Bain made by French painter Merry-Joseph Blondel. Björnström-Steffansson demanded $100,000 ($2.4 million equivalent in 2014) in compensation for the loss of it. Bjornstrom-Steffansson did not receive the compensation he asked; all the cases against White Star were settled for a combined amount of $644,000.
On his journey, he was often seen with Hugh Woolner. It is plausible Mauritz shared a cabin with him, though the Cave List only lists Woolner in cabin C-52.
Both aided in loading the boats with women. Both men also testified that they saw Pursor McElroy fire shots, as did Jack Thayer. At the time of the collision, Mauritz felt a slight jar but nothing to worry about. Initially he and his friend Woolner thought it was merely a drill.
He was later also part of the Committee consisting of First Class Passengers with most notably Margaret Brown who honored Captain Arthur Rostron of RMS Carpathia for his great effort to come to their aid.