Frank Manley Warren

Who was Mr Frank Manley Warren?

Mr Frank Manley Warren was a prominent American businessman and first-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on May 10, 1848, in Ellsworth, Maine, Warren was a successful entrepreneur who founded the Warren Packing Co., a fish canning company. He was 63 (sixty-three) years old at the time of the Titanic disaster and tragically lost his life in the sinking.

Early Life and Family

Frank Manley Warren was born into a merchant family in Maine. His parents were:

• Father: Francis Manley Warren (1817-1900), a merchant
• Mother: Elizabeth Dyer (1817-1893)

As an infant, Frank appeared in the 1850 census living with his mother at the home of his maternal grandmother, Sarah Dyer, in Castine, Hancock, Maine. By 1870, the family had relocated to Portland, Oregon, where Frank began his professional life as an express office clerk.

Business Ventures and Community Impact

The Warren Packing Co.

Frank Warren’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish the Warren Packing Co., a successful fish canning business. His impact on the industry was so significant that a community in Oregon was named after him:

• Warrendale, Oregon: Site of one of Warren’s canneries, named in his honor

Community Involvement

The Warrens were active members of their local community:

• Members of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Portland
• Frank served on the board of trustees of Pacific University, which was co-founded by his father-in-law

Family Life

In 1872, at the age of 24 (twenty-four), Frank married Anna Sofia Bates Atkinson, an Oregon native born in 1851. Anna was the daughter of Reverend George Henry Atkinson, a missionary. The couple had four children:

1. Frances Elizabeth (1873-1960), later Mrs. Walter Alfred Holt
2. Frank Manley Jr. (1876-1947)
3. George Atkinson (1878-1938)
4. Anna Grace (1881-1977), later Mrs. Donald R. Munro

The Titanic Journey

Why were the Warrens on the Titanic?

In early 1912, Frank and Anna Warren embarked on a three-month European vacation to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary. Their return journey would tragically be aboard the RMS Titanic.

Titanic Ticket Details

The Night of the Disaster

Mrs. Warren later provided a detailed account of the events on April 14, 1912. Here are some key moments:

• The couple retired to their cabin around 10:30 PM after spending time in the lounge.
• They were awakened by the collision at approximately 11:45 PM.
• Mr. Warren initially downplayed the severity of the situation, believing the ship to be unsinkable.
• They eventually made their way to the boat deck, encountering other notable passengers like the Astors and Helene Østby.

Frank Warren’s Final Moments

As the evacuation began, Mrs. Warren boarded Lifeboat 5, expecting her husband to follow. In a poignant display of chivalry, she last saw Frank assisting other women into the lifeboat. This act of selflessness would be his final known action.

Frank Manley Warren perished in the Titanic disaster on April 15, 1912. His body, if recovered, was never identified, leaving a legacy of bravery and sacrifice in the face of tragedy.