Edward Beane

Who was Mr Edward Beane?

Mr Edward Beane was a 32 (thirty-two) year-old English bricklayer and Titanic survivor who gained notoriety for his daring escape during the ship’s sinking. Born in Hoveton, Norfolk, England on November 19, 1879, Beane was one of the few second-class male passengers to survive the disaster, later settling in Rochester, New York with his wife Ethel.

Early Life and Family

A Large Norfolk Family

Edward Beane was born into a sizable family in Norfolk, England. His parents were:

• Father: George Beane (1857-1914), a brewery worker
• Mother: Mary Ann Cox (1855-1945)

Edward was one of ten children, with siblings including:

• Sarah (b. 1878)
• George Herbert (b. 1881)
• William (b. 1882)
• Charles Archie (b. 1884)
• Caroline Augusta (b. 1886)
• Ernest Christmas (b. 1887)
• May Christine (b. 1890)
• Robert (b. 1892)
• Bertie Stanley (b. 1893)

Childhood and Early Adulthood

Edward’s early years were spent in various locations around Norfolk:

• 1881: Living with family on Armes Street in Heigham, Norfolk
• 1891: Moved to 231 Northumberland Street, Heigham
• 1901: Relocated to 188 Northumberland Street

By 1901, Edward had begun his career as a bricklayer, a profession he would maintain throughout his life.

A Transatlantic Romance

First Taste of America

Edward’s connection to America began before his fateful Titanic journey:

• April 13, 1907: Departed England aboard the Philadelphia for New York
• December 22, 1910: Returned to Southampton on the Adriatic

Interestingly, Edward’s return to England was motivated by his desire to find a bride.

Marriage to Ethel Louisa Clarke

In early 1912, Edward married Ethel Louisa Clarke (b. 1889), a dressmaker and furrier who had been his neighbor in Northumberland Street. This union would set the stage for their life-changing journey on the Titanic.

The Titanic Voyage

Embarking on a New Life

The newlyweds boarded the Titanic at Southampton as second-class passengers, with plans to settle in New York.

A Dramatic Escape

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, Edward and Ethel’s lives changed forever:

• They managed to escape in lifeboat 9
• Edward was one of very few second-class male passengers to survive
• He later claimed a dramatic escape, stating that after Ethel was placed in the lifeboat, he leapt from the deck into the ocean and swam to her lifeboat

Life After the Titanic

Settling in Rochester

Following their survival, Edward and Ethel:

• Settled in Rochester, New York
• Lived at 44 Michigan Street for the rest of their lives
• Never returned to England

Family and Career

In Rochester, Edward:

• Continued working as a bricklayer
• Became a member of the Bricklayers’ Union
• Had two sons with Ethel:
  1. Edward (1913-1982)
  2. George (1916-1998)

Reflecting on the Tragedy

The Beanes rarely spoke about their Titanic experience, only giving occasional newspaper interviews throughout their lives.

Edward Beane’s Legacy

Edward Beane passed away in the Rochester State Hospital on October 24, 1948, just shy of his 69th birthday. He and Ethel are buried together in White Haven Memorial Park, their incredible story of survival and new beginnings etched in Titanic history.

Edward Beane’s tale serves as a testament to the human spirit’s resilience in the face of tragedy, and his daring escape from the Titanic remains one of the most remarkable stories of that fateful night.