Colonel Archibald Gracie IV: Titanic Survivor and Chronicler

Colonel Archibald Gracie IV was a prominent American writer, amateur historian, and survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster. Born on January 17, 1859, in Mobile, Alabama, Gracie’s life would become inextricably linked to one of the most infamous maritime tragedies in history.

Early Life and Family Background

Archibald Gracie IV came from a distinguished American family. His ancestors had built Gracie Mansion, which later became the official residence of the Mayor of New York City in 1942. Gracie received his education at St. Paul’s Academy in Concord, New Hampshire, and later graduated from the prestigious West Point Military Academy.

Gracie’s father, Archibald Gracie Jr. (1832-1864), had a notable military career. After studying in Heidelberg, Germany, and at West Point, he resigned from the Army in 1856 to enter the cotton-brokerage business in Mobile, Alabama. When the Civil War broke out, Gracie Jr. sided with the Confederacy, serving as a militia captain and later as a brigadier general. He fought in the Battle of Chickamauga and was killed on December 2, 1864, while observing Union Army movements during the siege of Petersburg, Virginia.

Career and Personal Life

Following in his father’s footsteps, Archibald Gracie IV became a colonel in the Seventh Regiment of the United States Army. He was independently wealthy and active in real estate. Gracie was also an amateur military historian, spending seven years writing a book titled “The Truth About Chickamauga,” which detailed the battle in which his father had fought.

Gracie was married and had four daughters, though tragedy struck his family multiple times. Two of his daughters died very young, with one killed in an elevator accident. The only daughter to reach maturity died shortly after her marriage.

Journey on the Titanic

In 1912, following the publication of his book, Colonel Gracie decided to take a relaxing trip to Europe. He traveled to Europe aboard the Oceanic, where he befriended one of the ship’s officers, Herbert Pitman, who would later serve as Third Officer on the Titanic.

For his return journey, Gracie booked passage on the RMS Titanic. He boarded at Southampton as a first-class passenger, occupying cabin C-51. His ticket number was 113780, and it cost £28 10s.

Life Aboard the Titanic

During the voyage, Gracie fully embraced the luxurious amenities of the ship. He described his experience:

“I enjoyed myself as if I were on a summer palace by the seashore surrounded by every comfort. I was up early before breakfast and met the professional racquet player in a half hour’s warming up preparatory for a swim in the six foot deep tank of saltwater heated to a refreshing temperature.”

Gracie joined a writers’ group on board called “Our coterie,” led by Helen Churchill Candee. He also spent time socializing with other prominent passengers, including Isidor Straus, to whom he loaned a copy of his book about Chickamauga.

The Night of the Disaster

On the evening of April 14, 1912, Gracie retired early to his cabin, planning to resume his fitness regimen the following morning. He was awakened at 11:45 PM by a jolt. Realizing something was wrong, he quickly dressed and made his way to the Boat Deck.

As the situation worsened, Gracie assisted in loading women and children into lifeboats. He helped Second Officer Lightoller load Boat 2 and Lifeboat 4. At one point, he even lifted the pregnant teenage wife of John Jacob Astor into a lifeboat.

Survival and Rescue

When the Titanic finally sank, Gracie was pulled under by the ship’s undertow. He managed to kick free and swam to the overturned Collapsible B, where he joined about 30 other survivors. They spent hours in the freezing water, balancing precariously on the upturned boat.

Gracie was finally rescued by Lifeboat 12 and brought aboard the Carpathia. He suffered cuts, bruises, and exposure but survived the ordeal.

Legacy and Final Days

Following his rescue, Colonel Gracie devoted himself to documenting the Titanic disaster. He wrote a detailed account titled “The Truth About The Titanic,” published in 1913. Tragically, Gracie never saw the book in print. He died on December 4, 1912, at his ancestral home in New York City, never having fully recovered from the trauma of the sinking.

Archibald Gracie was the third survivor of the Titanic to die, preceded only by Maria Nackid on July 30, 1912, and Eugenie Baclini on August 30, 1912. His funeral at Woodlawn Cemetery in New York was attended by many Titanic survivors and members of his regiment.

Colonel Archibald Gracie IV’s firsthand account of the Titanic disaster remains an invaluable resource for historians and researchers, ensuring that his legacy as both a survivor and chronicler of one of history’s most famous maritime tragedies endures.