Daniel Coxon

Who was Mr Daniel Coxon?

Mr Daniel Coxon was a 58 (fifty-eight) year-old English dealer and third-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Known affectionately as “Popcorn Dan” in his adopted home of Merrill, Wisconsin, Coxon was a street popcorn vendor who tragically lost his life in the Titanic disaster on April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Family

Daniel Coxon was born on August 27, 1853, in St Pancras, Middlesex, England. He was baptized on September 18 of the same year at Old Church, St Pancras. His parents were:

• Father: Daniel Coxon Sr. (born 1818), a carpenter from Derbyshire
• Mother: Ann Myall (born 1823), from Somerset

Daniel was one of nine children born to his parents. His siblings included:

• Edwin (born 1851)
• Elizabeth Sarah (born 1855)
• John Myall (1857-1940)
• Henry (1859-1899)
• Alfred (1861-1949)
• David William (1863-1950)
• Arthur (1867-1891)
• Mary Ann Myall (1869-1953)

Interestingly, Daniel’s father had been previously married to Elizabeth Myall, Ann’s sister, who passed away in late 1850 or early 1851.

Where did Daniel Coxon grow up?

The Coxon family lived in various addresses in Kentish Town, Middlesex. In the 1861 census, they were recorded as residing at:

25 Oak Village, Kentish Town, Middlesex

This area would remain the family’s home base for many years, with census records from 1871 to 1891 showing them at different addresses within Kentish Town.

Emigration and Life in America

When did Daniel Coxon move to America?

While family sources suggest that Daniel emigrated to Canada in the early 1870s before crossing into the USA, official records indicate he moved to the United States in the early 1880s. He settled in Merrill, Wisconsin, where he would spend much of his adult life.

What was Daniel Coxon’s life like in America?

In America, Daniel Coxon led a solitary life:

• He never married
• Lived alone
• Worked various jobs

His occupations over the years included:

1. Laborer (as per the 1900 census)
2. Street popcorn vendor (by the 1910 census)

It was his profession as a popcorn vendor that earned him the endearing nickname “Popcorn Dan” among the locals in Merrill. Intriguingly, contemporary news reports also described him as a “cripple,” though the nature of his disability is not specified in the available records.

Return to England and Titanic Journey

Why did Daniel Coxon return to England?

In December 1911, Daniel Coxon made a return trip to England. He arrived in Britain on December 22, 1911, aboard the RMS New York - coincidentally the same steamer that would nearly collide with the Titanic in Southampton docks just four months later.

During his stay in England, Coxon resided at:

38 Rockford, Kentish Town, London

This address was likely the home of one of his siblings.

How did Daniel Coxon end up on the Titanic?

In a twist of fate, Daniel Coxon reportedly delayed his return to the United States specifically to travel on the maiden voyage of the new steamer RMS Titanic. This decision would ultimately cost him his life.

The Titanic Voyage

Daniel Coxon boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a third-class passenger. His ticket details were as follows:

• Ticket Number: 364500
• Cost: £7 5s (7 pounds, 5 shillings)

What happened to Daniel Coxon during the Titanic disaster?

Tragically, Mr. Daniel Coxon lost his life in the Titanic disaster on April 15, 1912. He was 58 (fifty-eight) years old at the time of his death. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

Legacy

Daniel Coxon’s story is a poignant reminder of the many individual tragedies that made up the larger Titanic disaster. From his humble beginnings in Kentish Town to his life as “Popcorn Dan” in Wisconsin, and his fateful decision to sail on the Titanic, Coxon’s life reflects the hopes, struggles, and ultimate misfortune of many third-class passengers aboard the ill-fated ship.

While his body was never recovered or identified, Daniel Coxon’s memory lives on as part of the enduring narrative of the Titanic, a stark reminder of the human cost of that tragic night in April 1912.