Master Albert Edward Peacock: The Second Youngest Victim of the Titanic

Master Albert Edward Peacock was a 7-month-old (seven-month-old) English boy who became one of the youngest victims of the Titanic disaster. Born on September 8, 1911, in Southampton, Hampshire, England, Albert’s life was tragically cut short when the ill-fated ship sank on April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Family

Albert Edward Peacock was born into a working-class family in Southampton. His parents were:

• Father: Benjamin Peacock (born 1886), an engineer from Dulwich, London
• Mother: Edith Nile (born 1885), from Illogan, Cornwall

Albert had an elder sister named Treasteall, born in 1908. Sadly, another sibling had died in infancy before Albert’s birth.

A Family Separated

Father’s Move to America

In 1911, Benjamin Peacock made a life-changing decision. He left England and settled in Newark, New Jersey, where he found employment at the power house of the Public Service Corporation. His new address was 609 South Broad Street.

Plans for Reunion

Once established in America, Benjamin sent funds for his wife and children to join him. In anticipation of their arrival, he purchased:

• A baby carriage for his newborn son, Albert
• Toys for his daughter, Treasteall

Benjamin was overjoyed at the prospect of reuniting with his family and meeting his son Albert for the first time.

The Fateful Journey

Boarding the Titanic

On April 10, 1912, Albert, along with his mother Edith and sister Treasteall, boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton. They were traveling as third-class passengers, holding ticket number 3101315, which cost £13, 15s, 6d (equivalent to £1,580 in 2021).

The Night of the Sinking

As the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink on the night of April 14-15, 1912, a heartbreaking scene unfolded. John Collins, a young Belfast crewman working as a scullion, encountered a desperate situation:

A steward was trying to assist a lady with two children. The steward had one child in his arms, while the woman, holding the other child, was crying.

It is widely believed that this woman and children were Edith Peacock with Albert and Treasteall.

Collins took one of the children from the woman, and the group searched for a lifeboat. They spotted a collapsible boat but were directed to move aft. Tragically, as they turned towards the stern, a wave washed them off the deck. The child Collins was carrying – likely little Albert – was swept from his arms.

The Tragic Outcome

Edith Peacock and both her children, Albert and Treasteall, were lost in the sinking. Their bodies, if recovered, were never identified.

Albert’s Place in Titanic History

At just 7 months old, Albert Edward Peacock holds a somber place in Titanic history as the second-youngest victim of the disaster. Only Gilbert Danbom, who was four months old at the time, was younger.

Legacy

The story of Albert Edward Peacock and his family serves as a poignant reminder of the many young lives lost in the Titanic disaster. It highlights the personal tragedies behind the statistics and the dreams of a better life that were shattered on that fateful night.

The Peacock family’s story also underscores the particular vulnerability of third-class passengers, many of whom were immigrating families seeking new opportunities in America.

Today, Albert Edward Peacock is remembered not only as a victim of the Titanic but as a symbol of the innocence and potential lost in one of history’s most famous maritime disasters.