Austin Partner

Who was Austin Partner?

Austin Partner was a 40-year-old (forty-year-old) English stockbroker and first-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic. He was known for his work on both sides of the Atlantic and tragically lost his life in the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. His body was later recovered and buried in Surrey, England.

Early Life and Family

Austin Partner was born on November 30, 1871, in White Roothing, Essex, England. He came from a religious background, with his father, Reverend Richard Partner (1839-1923), serving as a congregational minister. His mother was Charlotte Mary Reynolds (1833-1920), a native of Bosham, Sussex.

Siblings and Childhood

Austin was one of four children in the Partner family:

Bertha (1868-1957), his elder sister
Richard (1869-1869), a brother who died in infancy
Sarah (1873-1873), a sister who also died in infancy

Growing up, Austin’s family moved around Essex. The 1881 census shows them living at 3 Stopford Road, West Ham, where his father was described as an independent Minister at Balsam Street Chapel.

Education and Early Career

By the time of the 1891 census, Austin and his family had moved to The Manse, 1 Howard’s Road. At the age of 19, Austin was already working as a banker’s clerk, showing an early interest in finance that would shape his future career.

Marriage and Family Life

In early 1897, Austin married Nellie Mary Foulkes Smith Hilton in Sussex. Nellie, born in 1872 in Southwark, Surrey, was the daughter of a draper. The couple settled in Surbiton, Surrey, and had two sons:

Arthur Hilton (born 1899)
Colin Austin (born 1905)

The family lived at “The Briars” on Ewell Road, Tolworth, as recorded in both the 1901 and 1911 censuses. Interestingly, Austin was absent from the 1911 census, possibly due to business travels.

Career as a Stockbroker

Austin Partner established himself as a successful stockbroker with connections on both sides of the Atlantic. His career took an exciting turn just before his fateful Titanic journey:

Ten days before sailing, he started a new job with the brokerage firm of Myer and Robertson
He was traveling to Canada to familiarize himself with an affiliated firm, Robinson & Black
This trip would have been his seventeenth voyage to Canada
His itinerary included visits to Toronto and Winnipeg

The Titanic Journey

How did Austin Partner end up on the Titanic?

Austin boarded the Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912. As a first-class passenger, he purchased ticket number 113043 for £28 10s (equivalent to about £3,300 in 2021). He was assigned to cabin C-124, providing him with luxurious accommodations for the voyage.

Austin’s First Impressions of the Titanic

In a letter to his wife, Austin shared his initial thoughts about the ship:

“I HAVE GOT A MOST COMFORTABLE ROOM & AND THE SHIP IS QUITE THE MOST LUXURIOUS I HAVE BEEN ON, I HOPE SHE WILL GET THERE QUICKLY.”

He also described a near-miss incident during the Titanic’s departure:

“WE NEARLY COLLIDED WITH A LINER COMING OUT OF SOUTHAMPTON - THE NEW YORK. SHE WAS MOORED CLOSE TO WHERE WE PASSED & BROKE AWAY FROM HER MOORING, WAS ONLY ABOUT 3 FT OFF US SUCH A SHAVE I WAS AFRAID WE SHOULD HAVE TO GO BACK WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN MADDENING.”

The Tragic Sinking

Austin Partner, like many others, lost his life when the Titanic sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912. His body was later recovered by the Mackay-Bennett, a cable ship chartered to retrieve victims from the disaster site.

Recovery and Identification

Austin’s body was numbered 166 and described as follows:

Male
Estimated age: 45
Hair: Fair
Clothing: Blue suit

Personal effects found on his body included:

Cigar case
Silver cigarette case marked “A. P.”
Cigar cutter
Gold hunter watch
Keys and gold links
3 gold studs
Various currencies totaling approximately £40 (equivalent to about £4,700 in 2021)

Legacy and Remembrance

Burial and Memorial

On May 7, 1912, Austin’s body was forwarded to New York and then shipped to England aboard the SS Minnehaha. He was laid to rest at St. Mary’s Churchyard in Long Ditton, Surrey, England on May 23, 1912.

His gravestone bears a touching inscription:

“Sacred to the memory of Austin Partner of Tolworth, Surbiton who lost his life in the foundering of the steamship ‘Titanic’ in mid-Atlantic on the 15th day of April, 1912, whose body was recovered and interred here May 23rd. Aged 40 years.”

Financial Legacy

Austin’s estate, valued at £3,772 8d (approximately £445,000 in 2021), was administered to his widow on June 12, 1912.

What happened to Austin Partner’s family after his death?

The loss of Austin had a profound impact on his family:

His widow, Nellie, never remarried. She continued to live at their home, The Briars, on Ewell Road until her death on July 13, 1957. She was buried alongside Austin.
Their son Arthur married Jane Brennan Reid in 1928 and had a son named Arthur. He became a hotel manager and moved to Wales, passing away in Breconshire on August 17, 1959.
Their younger son Colin worked as a railway clerk. He married Irene Margaret Wall in 1955 and died in London in 1982. Colin was also buried with his parents.

Austin Partner’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many lives cut short by the Titanic