Who was Mr Albert Denis Pierre Mallet?

Mr Albert Denis Pierre Mallet was a 45-year-old (forty-five-year-old) French-Canadian merchant and second-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. He was a traveler for the liquor importing firm Laporte, Martin & Co. in Montreal, Canada, and tragically lost his life in the Titanic disaster on April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Career

Albert Mallet was born on August 6, 1866, in France. He immigrated to Canada around 1900 or 1903, making a new life for himself in the North American continent. For seven or eight years prior to his fateful Titanic journey, Mallet had been working for Laporte, Martin & Co., establishing himself in the liquor importing business.

Physical Appearance

Albert Mallet was described as:

• 5 feet 6 inches tall
• Brown hair
• Grey eyes

This description comes from records of his travels, showcasing the detailed documentation of the era.

Family Life and Marriage

In February 1909, Albert Mallet’s life took a romantic turn. He returned to Canada as a first-class passenger on the steamer La Provence, accompanied by Antonina Magnin, a 22-year-old woman. Passenger lists hint at their relationship, with a scribbled note suggesting she might be his “intended” wife.

Shortly after their arrival in Canada, Albert and Antonine married in 1909 at the Presbyterian La Croix church in Montreal. The following year, in 1910, they welcomed their son, André, into the world.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Why did the Mallets choose the Titanic?

Initially, the Mallet family had planned to return from a two-month visit to Mr. Mallet’s mother in France on the maiden voyage of the France. However, like many others, they were captivated by the allure of the Titanic. Albert Mallet, “anxious for the experience of sailing in the largest ship in the world on her maiden voyage,” made a fateful decision. He sold their original tickets and booked passage on the Titanic instead.

Titanic Boarding Details

• Embarkation Point: Cherbourg
• Ticket Number: SC/PARIS 2079
• Ticket Price: £37 0s 1d
• Class: Second Class
• Destination: 210 Hutchison Street, Montreal, Canada

Traveling Companions

The Mallets were not traveling alone. They were accompanied by a family friend, Emile Richard, who was 23 years old. Richard had just completed his compulsory service in the French army and was embarking on a six-month vacation in Canada before joining his family’s distilling company.

The Tragedy and Its Aftermath

Tragically, both Albert Mallet and Emile Richard perished in the sinking of the Titanic. Their bodies, if recovered, were never identified. This cruel twist of fate left Antoinette Mallet a widow and young André fatherless.

“Mr. Richard was accompanied on the trip by Mr. Albert Mallet, a traveller for Messrs. Laporte, Martin & Company, who, anxious for the experience of sailing in the largest ship in the world on her maiden voyage, sold the ticket he had procured to sail to New York by one of the French liners, and took passage on the ill-fated Titanic, also meeting his death in the catastrophe.” - The Gazette, Montreal, April 22, 1912, p. 7

Financial Impact

Albert Mallet’s life insurance amounted to $4,000, which would have provided some financial support for his surviving family members.

Legacy and Family’s Fate

While Albert Mallet’s life was cut short, his wife Antoinette and son André survived the Titanic disaster. Following the tragedy, Antoinette returned to France with her young son. She later remarried, wedding Leonivas Romodanowsky, and lived until October 22, 1974, when she passed away near Paris.

Albert Denis Pierre Mallet’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many lives changed forever by the Titanic disaster. His decision to change tickets for the experience of sailing on the world’s largest ship led to an untimely end, leaving behind a family who would carry the weight of this tragedy for decades to come.