John Borland Thayer JR

Who was Mr John Borland Thayer Jr.?

Mr John Borland “Jack” Thayer Jr. was a 17-year-old American first-class passenger and survivor of the Titanic disaster. Born on December 24, 1894, to a prominent Philadelphia family, Jack was returning from Europe with his parents when the Titanic struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912. His harrowing survival story and vivid eyewitness account of the ship’s sinking have become an important part of Titanic history.

Early Life and Family

Jack Thayer was born into privilege as the son of John Borland Thayer, a railroad executive, and Marian Longstreth Thayer. The family resided in Haverford, Pennsylvania, a wealthy suburb of Philadelphia. As a young man, Jack enjoyed the benefits of his family’s social status, including first-class travel and private education.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Boarding the “Unsinkable” Ship

In April 1912, the Thayer family boarded the RMS Titanic at Cherbourg, France, occupying cabin C-70. They were returning from a family trip to Europe, with Jack looking forward to resuming his studies back home.

The Night of the Disaster

On the night of April 14, Jack was preparing for bed when he noticed something amiss:

• He felt the ship’s engines stop
• There was no significant jolt or impact
• Jack went to investigate, seeing ice on the forward well deck

As the situation worsened, Jack and his parents made their way to the boat deck. In the chaos that ensued, Jack became separated from his mother and father.

A Desperate Leap

As the Titanic began its final plunge, Jack found himself at the ship’s rail with his new acquaintance Milton Long. In a split-second decision that would save his life, Jack jumped from the sinking vessel. He later recalled:

“I looked upwards - we were right under the three enormous propellers. For an instant, I thought they were sure to come down on top of us. Then, with the deadened noise of the bursting of her last few gallant bulkheads, she slid quietly away from us into the sea.”

Survival on Collapsible B

Jack managed to reach an overturned lifeboat (Collapsible B) where he and about 30 other men clung for survival through the frigid night. He later likened the cries of those in the water to “the high-pitched hum of locusts back home in Pennsylvania.”

Rescue and Aftermath

At 8:30 a.m. on April 15, Jack was finally brought aboard the rescue ship Carpathia, where he was reunited with his mother. Tragically, his father did not survive the disaster.

Life After the Titanic

Education and Career

Despite the trauma of his Titanic experience, Jack went on to lead a successful life:

• Graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
• Pursued a career in banking
• Later returned to his alma mater as Financial Vice-President and Treasurer

Family Life

Jack married Lois Cassatt and had two sons:

• Edward C. Thayer
• John B. Thayer IV

Documenting His Experience

In 1940, Jack produced a pamphlet detailing his Titanic experiences, possibly as a way to cope with the lingering trauma of that night.

The Lasting Impact of Tragedy

The Titanic disaster cast a long shadow over Jack’s life. During World War II, both of his sons joined the military. The death of his son Edward in the Pacific theater is believed to have triggered a bout of depression in Jack.

Tragically, on September 20, 1945, at the age of 50 (fifty), Jack Thayer took his own life. He was laid to rest at the Church of the Redeemer Cemetery in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

Jack Thayer’s Legacy

Jack Thayer’s detailed and eloquent account of the Titanic’s sinking has provided historians and researchers with invaluable insights into that fateful night. His survival story, marked by quick thinking and sheer determination, stands as a testament to the human will to live in the face of unimaginable adversity.

Today, Jack Thayer is remembered not only as a Titanic survivor but as a man who carried the weight of that experience throughout his life, serving as a poignant reminder of the long-lasting impact of historical tragedies on individual lives.