Who was Arthur Gee?

Arthur Gee was a 47-year-old (forty-seven) English businessman and first-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic who tragically perished in the ship’s sinking on April 15, 1912. He was known for his expertise in the textile industry, particularly in calico printing, and had extensive international experience working in Russia and Germany before his fateful journey to Mexico.

Early Life and Family

Arthur Gee was born on March 21, 1865, in Bolton Road, Pendleton, Irlams o’ th’ Height, Manchester. He was the son of Giles Gee, a calico print dyer, and Amelia Crosby. Arthur was baptized on April 30, 1865, at St. John the Evangelist Church, Pendlebury, Manchester.

His siblings included:

Walter (1853-1912)
William (1857-1933?)
Emily (1863-1864)
Giles (1867-1870)

Education and Early Career

Arthur’s education and early career were marked by international experiences:

At age 14, he returned to England to study at Manchester Grammar School
He later studied the chemistry of calico printing in Alsace, Germany
During his time in Germany, he learned to speak German and French fluently

Professional Life in Russia

After completing his education, Arthur returned to Schlüsselburg, near St. Petersburg, Russia, where he had lived briefly as a child. He joined the Schlüsselburg Calico Printing Works Company, owned by Anglo Russian Cotton Factories Co. Ltd., where his father had also worked.

Arthur’s career in Russia was successful:

He rose to the position of manager at the company
He remained in Russia until late 1911 or early 1912
There are suggestions that he may have been forced to leave Russia at that time

Marriage and Family Life

On August 6, 1896, Arthur married Edith Horrocks. The couple had four children:

Edith Neva (born 1897)
Arthur William (born 1900)
Edward (born 1902)
Harry (born 1904)

The Titanic Journey

Arthur Gee’s fateful journey on the Titanic was related to his new employment:

He was appointed manager of a factory (likely a textile mill) in Atlixco, near Mexico City
This position was with the firm of Whitehead, Sumner, Harker, and Company
He boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a first-class passenger
His ticket number was 111320, which cost £38 10s
He initially occupied cabin E-63, an inside cabin near the engine room

Arthur Gee’s Titanic Experience

During his time on the Titanic, Arthur Gee documented his experiences:

He wrote letters and kept a diary about the voyage
In one letter, he described the ship as “a knock-out” and compared it to a palace
He was moved to a new cabin on April 13, which had a porthole 15 ft from the waterline

On the night of the sinking, Arthur was in the smoking room with fellow passengers Charles C. Jones and Algernon Barkworth. They were discussing road building when Jones and Gee retired for the night.

The Sinking and Aftermath

Tragically, Arthur Gee did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. His body was later recovered by the cable ship Mackay Bennett and was numbered 275. The body was described as that of a male, estimated age 60, with dark hair and mustache, wearing a brown overcoat, dress pants, and a tuxedo suit.

Arthur’s body was sent to New York on May 9, 1912, and then transported to Liverpool aboard the Baltic. He was buried at St. John the Evangelist Church, Irlam O’ Th’ Heights, Pendlebury, Manchester, next to his father’s grave.

Legacy

Arthur Gee’s estate was valued at £4,240, 10s, and 11d, which passed to his widow Edith, her brother William Horrocks, and another relative, Henry Scholes. His family faced further tragedies in the years following his death, with the loss of two of his children at young ages.

Arthur Gee’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many lives cut short by the Titanic disaster, and the far-reaching impact it had on families across the world.