Henry Margido Olsen

Who was Mr Henry Margido Olsen?

Mr Henry Margido Olsen was a 28 (twenty-eight) year old Norwegian engineer and Titanic passenger who tragically perished in the ship’s sinking. Born on March 22, 1884 in Trondheim, Norway, Olsen overcame a challenging childhood to become a skilled engineer, only to have his life cut short on his way to a new job opportunity in America.

Early Life and Family

A Complicated Childhood

Henry’s early years were marked by unusual family circumstances:

Born as an illegitimate child to Ole Rørosgaard and Eva Gustava Søderholm
Father was married to another woman with his own family
Mother Eva married Ulrik Rist Johansen in 1886
Left behind in Norway when his mother and stepfather emigrated to America in 1887
Raised by foster parents in Norway

This separation from his biological family would shape Henry’s life path in significant ways.

Family in America

While Henry remained in Norway, his mother’s new family grew in Cambridge, Massachusetts:

Half-siblings born in America:
- Lillian (b. 1888)
- Ardella (b. 1890)
- Arthur Ulric (b. 1891)
- Roy (b. 1898)
By 1910, the family was living on Prince Street in Cambridge

Career and Marriage

Working on the Steamers

As a young man, Henry found work on steamships, developing skills that would lead to his career as an engineer. This experience on the water foreshadowed his fateful journey on the Titanic.

A New Family of His Own

On August 14, 1909, Henry married Larsine Magdalena Nilsen Toppe, known as Sina. Their family quickly grew:

Sina worked as a laundress
Daughter Mathilde born in 1909
Daughter Solveig born in 1911

Pursuing Engineering Dreams

Despite financial struggles, Henry was determined to advance his career:

Borrowed money to study for his engineer’s exam
Worked in an engineering workshop by day while studying
Passed his exam in March 1912
Secured a position as a donkeyman on the S.S. Edda in New York

The Titanic Journey

Why was Henry on the Titanic?

Henry boarded the Titanic at Southampton as a third-class passenger, embarking on what he hoped would be a journey to a better life for his family. He was traveling with two other men, Albert Andersen and Johan Holten, who were also joining the crew of the S.S. Edda.

Ticket Details

Ticket number: 4001
Cost: £22 10s 6d (equivalent to about £2,700 in 2023)
Shared ticket with Andersen and Holten

The Tragedy Unfolds

Sadly, neither Henry nor his traveling companions survived the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912.

Recovery and Identification

Henry’s body was recovered by the Mackay Bennett, designated as body #173. The description provided paints a poignant picture of the young engineer:

Estimated age: 27
Hair: Fair
Clothing: Blue suit, green shirt
Personal effects:
- Pipe
- Silver watch
- Gold chain
- Gold ring
- Purse
- Memo book

Henry was buried at sea on April 24, 1912, with his personal effects returned to his widow.

Legacy and Family Aftermath

Financial Support

The Mansion House Fund provided support to Henry’s family:

1817 NKr (£100) paid on February 19, 1913
- 1017 NKr to Sine Olsen
- 800 NKr to the children
Additional damage claims paid in subsequent years

The Lives That Continued

Henry’s death left a lasting impact on his family:

Widow Sina never remarried
Sina ran her own knitting business
Sina passed away in Oslo on January 26, 1964
Daughters Mathilde and Solveig married and raised families
- Mathilde (Mrs. Peter Klausen) died in 1992
- Solveig (Mrs. Lars Sletback) died in 2000

A Life Cut Short

Henry Margido Olsen’s story is a testament to the human cost of the Titanic disaster. A young engineer striving for a better life, Henry’s journey was tragically cut short, leaving behind a young family and unfulfilled dreams. His tale serves as a poignant reminder of the many individual tragedies that made up the larger catastrophe of the Titanic’s sinking.