Percy Cornelius Taylor (March 20th, 1872 - April 15th, 1912) was a member of Second Class Orchestra of the Titanic. He and all of his colleagues died in the sinking.
Early Life[]
Percy was born to parents Martin Taylor and Emily Wheeler, one of five of the Wheeler children. He was born in Hackney, London, England on 20 March 1872, later being baptized on 5 May that same year in St. Philip's Church, Hackney.
He married to a widow Clara Alice Davis, neé Talbot in Christ Church, Lambeth on 20 May 1906. They had no children. Later, Percy began to play musical instruments such as the Cello.
On the Titanic[]
Percy joined the Titanic as a cellist in Titanic's orchestra and travelled on a group ticket (number 250654) as a second class passenger with his bandmates, playing music for the passengers to listen to. He played in a quintet under Band leader Wallace Hartley, and often played in the First-Class Reception Room or Second-Class Entrance.
The Sinking[]
After the ship started sinking after hitting an iceberg, the Captain asked the Band to play to calm the passengers. The band did so, and first they gathered in the First Class Lounge, which was the muster station for most of the passengers. A little while later, they reassembled by the piano on the Boat Deck of the first class Grand Staircase, where they remained for a long time. After stopping to go down to their room and fetch their lifejackets, they stepped out on the Boat Deck as the ship began to go down. As the ship's final plunge began, the band began to play their final piece - which was either "Song d' Autumne" or "Nearer My God To Thee".
Percy, alongside all of his colleagues in the orchestra, died in the sinking. And his body, if recovered, was never identified.
Popular Culture Portrayals[]
Even though he is not credited, he is in a few films.
A Night to Remember (1958 film)[]
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A Night To Remember (1958)
In this film he is played by an Unknown Actor, but is dubbed when singing by baritone singer Gordon Holdom. In real life, it is not believed Percy ever sang vocals. The music that this version of Percy was singing was Nearer My God To Thee (Horbury)
Titanic (1997 film)[]
Titanic (1997)
In this film he is played by Bela Szedlak from the group I Salonisti, and first appears in the reception room. Then he moves to the Dining Room. During the sinking he is seen first in the Lounge and then out on Deck, and seemed to have played the Double Bass.