George Andrew Brereton

Who was George Andrew Brereton?

George Andrew Brereton was an American gambler and con artist who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born in 1874 in Minnesota, Brereton led a colorful life marked by fraud, international travel, and brushes with the law. He is perhaps best known for his audacious attempts to swindle fellow Titanic survivors even as they were being rescued.

Early Life and Family

George Andrew Brereton was born on November 12, 1874, in Madelia, Watonwan County, Minnesota. He came from a diverse background:

• Father: Daniel E. Brereton (1838-circa 1920), an Irish immigrant farmer
• Mother: Mary E. Rohe (1844-1915), a German immigrant from Bavaria
• Siblings:
  • Clarence Sylvester (1870-1963)
  • Frank Daniel (1873-1911)
  • Emily Barbara (1876-1970)
  • John Adolph (1878-1951)
  • May (b. 1881)
  • William Edward (1883-1964)

The Brereton family moved to Minneapolis by 1895, where they resided at 608 16th Avenue South according to the 1900 census. However, George was not listed at this address, hinting at his early penchant for a transient lifestyle.

Titanic Voyage and Survival

How did Brereton come to be on the Titanic?

Brereton boarded the RMS Titanic at Southampton on April 10, 1912, traveling under the alias “George Arthur Brayton.” He purchased a first-class ticket (number 111427) for £26 11s, equivalent to about $3,300 in today’s currency.

What was Brereton doing when disaster struck?

When the Titanic struck the iceberg on April 14, 1912, Brereton was in the First Class smoking room, reportedly “stalking a victim” for his gambling schemes. This detail provides a chilling glimpse into his character and activities aboard the ill-fated ship.

How did Brereton survive the sinking?

Brereton was rescued, possibly in lifeboat 9, though the exact details of his evacuation are not clear. Astonishingly, even during the rescue operation aboard the Carpathia, Brereton continued his fraudulent activities. He approached fellow first-class passenger Charles Stengel on deck, attempting to involve him in a horse racing scam.

Life After the Titanic

Did Brereton’s brush with death change his ways?

Far from being sobered by his near-death experience, Brereton seemed to double down on his fraudulent lifestyle. In 1915, just three years after the Titanic disaster, he was convicted in Toledo, Ohio for his part in a horse racing scam. Operating under the alias “Banning,” he was sentenced to two years in prison and fined $2,000.

What was Brereton’s personal life like?

Brereton’s personal life was as tumultuous as his professional one:

1. First marriage: On August 13, 1912, he married Grace Heron in Manhattan.
2. Tragedy: Their son, George Daniel, died on March 2, 1921, following complications from a tonsillectomy.
3. Further tragedy: Grace, devastated by the loss, took her own life on February 23, 1922.
4. Second marriage: On April 7, 1922, Brereton married Hazel Rell.
5. Second family: They had a son, Daniel Rell, born on July 20, 1927, in Los Angeles.
6. Divorce: The marriage to Hazel ended in divorce, with Hazel remarrying in 1938.

Later Years and Legacy

How did Brereton spend his later years?

In his later years, Brereton continued his pattern of travel and dubious business dealings:

• He applied for passports in 1923 and 1925, traveling extensively in Europe and spending time in Cuba.
• By 1940, he was living in Los Angeles, claiming to work in the mining sector.
• Even in his 60s, Brereton was still involved in fraudulent schemes. In 1933, he was arrested in Yosemite National Park for swindling a New Yorker out of $27,000 in a fake horse race deal.

How did George Andrew Brereton’s life end?

Tragically, on July 16, 1942, at the age of 67 (sixty-seven), Brereton took his own life at his home at 7021 Miramonte Boulevard, Los Angeles. He was buried in Valhalla Memorial Park.

What was George Andrew Brereton’s lasting impact?

George Andrew Brereton’s life serves as a cautionary tale of how even surviving one of history’s greatest disasters failed to deter a determined con artist. His story provides a unique perspective on the aftermath of the Titanic sinking, showing that not all survivors were changed for the better by their brush with mortality. Brereton’s legacy is one of persistence in his chosen path, for better or worse, right up until the end of his life.