George Quincy Clifford

Who was Mr George Quincy Clifford?

Mr George Quincy Clifford was a prominent American businessman and Titanic passenger who tragically perished in the ill-fated maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic in 1912. Born on November 20, 1871, in Kingston, Plymouth, Massachusetts, Clifford was 40 (forty) years old when he boarded the Titanic. He was the president of the George E. Belcher Last Company in Stoughton, Massachusetts, and a respected member of several Boston and Brockton area clubs.

Early Life and Family

A Massachusetts Native with Canadian Roots

George Quincy Clifford was born into a family with both American and Canadian heritage. His father, Lowell Quincy Clifford, was a Massachusetts native and worked as a stonemason. His mother, Ellen M. Lamb, hailed from Canada. The couple married on June 29, 1870, in Kingston, Massachusetts, with George being their firstborn child.

Siblings and Childhood

George was the eldest of four brothers:

George Quincy Clifford (b. November 20, 1871)
Charles Luther Clifford (b. 1873)
Chester Winslow Clifford (1876-1878)
Henry Newland Clifford (1879-1895)

Tragically, two of George’s younger brothers, Chester and Henry, passed away in childhood. The 1880 census places young George, then 8 (eight) years old, living with his family in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Career and Personal Life

A Successful Businessman

By 1912, George Clifford had established himself as a successful businessman. He was the president of the George E. Belcher Last Company in Stoughton, Massachusetts, a testament to his entrepreneurial skills and business acumen.

Marriage and Family

On August 17, 1899, George married Margaret Good (née Brainard) in Vermont. Margaret, born on May 27, 1868, was a widow from Warren, Massachusetts. She had previously been married to Arthur J. Good in 1885 and had a daughter, Gertrude Madeline (1886-1952), who later married William Wallace MacArthur.

The Fateful European Trip

Preparation and Departure

In the winter of 1912, George Clifford made a decision that would prove fateful. Before embarking on a combined business and pleasure trip to Europe, he took out an additional $50,000 worth of life insurance. On February 20, 1912, Clifford set sail from Boston aboard the Megantic, another White Star liner, accompanied by two business associates:

Walter Chamberlain Porter, President of the Samuel Porter Last Manufacturing Co., Worcester
John Edward Maguire of the Dunbar Pattern Co., Brockton

European Tour and Personal Loss

During their European tour, the three businessmen visited thriving trade centers across England, Germany, France, Austria, and other countries. However, the trip was marred by personal tragedy for Clifford. Upon arriving in Europe, he received a telegram informing him of his mother’s passing on February 23, while he was crossing the Atlantic.

Health Concerns and Return Plans

In one of Walter Porter’s last letters home, dated March 31, 1912, he mentioned that while he and Maguire had been in good health throughout the trip, Clifford had been in poor health for the previous three weeks. Despite this, the group was looking forward to their return journey on the Titanic, scheduled to depart Southampton on April 10.

The Titanic Voyage

Boarding and Accommodations

The three men boarded the Titanic in Southampton as first-class passengers. Clifford shared ticket number 110465, priced at £52, with Porter. Clifford occupied cabin A14, while Porter was in cabin C110, and Maguire in the adjacent cabin C108.

The Tragic Outcome

Sadly, all three men perished in the Titanic disaster on April 15, 1912. While Porter’s body was recovered by the Mackay Bennett (body #207) in remarkably good condition, neither Clifford’s nor Maguire’s bodies were ever found.

Legacy and Aftermath

Financial Legacy

Due to his foresight in purchasing additional life insurance before the trip, Clifford’s total insurance payout reached $110,000. Additionally, his estate was valued at $150,000, a substantial sum for the time.

Family After the Tragedy

George’s brother Charles died on November 24, 1913. His widowed father remarried in 1914 to Helen E. Sprague but passed away two years later on August 16, 1916. Margaret Clifford, George’s widow, never remarried. She lived for another 15 years after the tragedy, passing away on February 22, 1927, in Brockton, Massachusetts. She was laid to rest in Union Cemetery.

George Quincy Clifford’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the human cost of the Titanic disaster. His life, cut short at 40 (forty) years old, exemplified the American dream of the early 20th century - a successful businessman embarking on an international journey, only to meet an untimely end in one of history’s most infamous maritime tragedies.