Augustus Schmidt

Who was Mr Augustus Schmidt?

Mr Augustus Schmidt, also known as August Smith, was a 22 (twenty-two) year-old Austrian-English passenger who tragically perished in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. Born in Austria around 1890, Schmidt was a second-class passenger on the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic, embarking at Southampton with hopes of reaching Newark, New Jersey.

Early Life and Family

Austrian Roots and Immigration

Augustus Schmidt was born into a family of merchants in Austria around 1890. His parents were:

• Father: Joseph Schmidt (born 1843)
• Mother: Bertha Schmidt (born 1849)

Augustus had three known siblings:

• Edwarda (born 1876)
• Flora (born 1879)
• Oscar (born 1882)

A New Life in England

In the late 1890s, the Schmidt family made a significant life change by emigrating to England. They settled in the Whitechapel area of London, where Joseph Schmidt established himself as a hosiery merchant. This move would prove influential in shaping young Augustus’s future career path.

Education and Career

Following in His Father’s Footsteps

Like his father and brother, Augustus Schmidt entered the world of commerce. The 1901 census of England provides a glimpse into the family’s life during this period:

• Address: 20 Church Lane, Whitechapel
• Family Business: Hosiery merchant

Augustus and his brother Oscar both chose to follow their father’s profession, learning the intricacies of the trade that would later take them across the Atlantic.

Transatlantic Adventures

A New Home in America

In the years following their initial move to England, Augustus and his brother Oscar embarked on another significant journey, this time across the Atlantic to the United States. Their paths diverged as they settled in different parts of the country:

• Augustus: Lived at 59 Halsey Street, Newark, New Jersey (home of Dr. W. H. De Vere)
• Oscar: Settled in the southern United States, involved in the lumber trade

European Return and Fateful Decision

Augustus’s life took another turn in mid-1911 when he returned to Europe. During this trip, he visited a sister in Paris, reconnecting with his family roots. Originally planning to return to the USA in March 1912, Augustus made a decision that would ultimately seal his fate – he postponed his voyage to travel on the maiden journey of the RMS Titanic.

The Titanic Journey

Embarkation and Ticket Details

• Class: 2nd Class
• Ticket Number: 248659
• Ticket Cost: £13
• Embarkation Point: Southampton
• Destination: Newark, New Jersey

Augustus boarded the Titanic at Southampton, giving his address as 11 Berwick Street, Westminster, London. This address belonged to the Krakower family, who were also involved in the tailoring business and, like Schmidt, were of Austrian origin.

The Tragedy and Its Aftermath

A Life Cut Short

Tragically, Augustus Schmidt did not survive the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. At just 22 years old, his promising life and career were cut short in one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.

Unidentified Among the Lost

Despite extensive recovery efforts following the Titanic’s sinking, Augustus Schmidt’s body was never identified, if it was recovered at all. This lack of closure adds another layer of tragedy to his story, leaving his family and descendants with unanswered questions about his final moments.

Legacy

Augustus Schmidt’s story, while brief, serves as a poignant reminder of the many lives impacted by the Titanic disaster. His journey from Austria to England, then to America and back to Europe, only to perish on his return voyage, encapsulates the spirit of adventure and the pursuit of opportunity that characterized many immigrants of his era. Today, he is remembered not only as a victim of the Titanic but as a young man whose life, though short, spanned continents and cultures in the early 20th century.