Mrs Lucile Carter

Who was Lucile Carter?

Lucile Carter was a prominent American socialite and Titanic survivor who gained notoriety for her glamorous lifestyle, daring fashion choices, and tumultuous personal life. Born on October 8, 1875, in Baltimore, Maryland, she was a descendant of President James Knox Polk and became a well-known figure in high society circles across the East Coast.

Early Life and Background

A Privileged Upbringing

Lucile Polk was born into a wealthy and influential family:

Father: William Stewart Polk (1827-1917), a Civil War veteran and successful insurance businessman
Mother: Louisa Ellen Anderson (1844-1933)
Brothers: Anderson (1870-1949) and David Peale (1880-1959)

Growing up in Baltimore, Lucile was described as one of the most beautiful young women in social circles. Her charm and vivacity quickly made her a sought-after debutante.

Marriage to William Ernest Carter

On January 29, 1896, at the age of 20 (twenty), Lucile married William Ernest Carter, a Philadelphia-born mining heir. The wedding was a grand affair, described in the Philadelphia Times:

The Bride wore a handsome Princess gown of heavy white satin with train, a Marie Antoinette point lace collar and tulle veil, and carried a bouquet of white orchids.

The couple had two children:

Lucile Polk Carter (1898-1962)
William Thornton II Carter (1900-1985)

Life in High Society

A Fashionable Couple

The Carters quickly became prominent figures in the social circles of Newport, Baltimore, New York, Washington, and Philadelphia. They were known for their lavish lifestyle:

Owned multiple residences, including a home at 1910 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia
Country estate “Gwedna” in Bryn Mawr
Summer cottage “Quatrefoil” in Newport, Rhode Island

Lucile’s Daring Fashion

Lucile gained a reputation for her bold fashion choices and athletic prowess. She was reportedly the first woman to play polo riding astride. Her most notorious fashion moment came in May 1911:

Mrs “Willie” Carter Startles Fashionable Hotel Crowds by Daring Costume
Philadelphia, May 15—the harem is a shrinking violet of a costume compared to that worn by Mrs Willie Carter, the famous golden-haired Philadelphia beauty, on an evening recently in the corridors of the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in this city.

The Titanic Journey

Why were the Carters on the Titanic?

The Carter family had been traveling in Europe and decided to return to America in March 1912. They initially booked passage on the Olympic but changed their plans at the last minute to sail on the Titanic.

Titanic Voyage Details

Class: First Class
Ticket Number: 113760
Cabin: B-96 and 98
Ticket Cost: £120
Port of Embarkation: Southampton

The Carters traveled with an entourage:

Augusta Serrepleà, Mrs. Carter’s maid
Alexander Cairns, Mr. Carter’s manservant
Augustus Aldworth, Carter’s chauffeur (traveling second class)
Two family pets: an Airedale terrier and Mrs. Carter’s Pekinese spaniel

Notably, Mr. Carter’s 25 horsepower Renault automobile was stored in the Titanic’s forward hold.

The Night of the Disaster

On the night of April 14, 1912, the Carters attended an exclusive dinner party held in honor of Captain Smith in the à la carte restaurant. The host was George Widener, and many notable first-class passengers were present.

What happened to Lucile during the sinking?

According to Lucile’s account, Mr. Carter awakened her when the ship struck the iceberg, telling her to get dressed and go up on deck. She claimed she never saw him again after that moment. However, a slightly different version of events was reported through her mother:

Mrs Carter was aroused from hr midnight slumbers by the jar of the vessel as it struck the iceberg and hastened with others to the decks. She stood by her husband and two children, Lucile and William, and only at the last minute would she consent to get into one of the lifeboats with her children.

Lucile and her children were rescued in Lifeboat 4. Remarkably, when they reached the Carpathia, Mrs. Carter was shocked to see her husband waiting for her, hanging over the railing.

Life After the Titanic

A Marriage in Turmoil

The Titanic disaster seemed to be a turning point in the Carters’ relationship. In January 1914, less than two years after the sinking, Lucile filed for divorce. The reasons cited were shocking:

Desertion during the Titanic sinking
Physical and mental abuse

Lucile testified:

“When the Titanic struck,” declared Mrs Carter in her testimony, “my husband came to me and said, ‘Get up and dress yourself and the child.’ I never saw him again until I was put aboard Carpathia. He was leaning over the rail as we climbed up from the boats to the deck, and all he had to say to me was, ‘I have had a jolly good breakfast, but I never thought I would make it.’”

A New Beginning

With the divorce finalized on May 31, 1914, Lucile wasted no time in starting a new chapter. In a surprising turn of events, she remarried on August 16, 1914, to George Clymer Brooke, a prominent Philadelphia businessman and heir to an iron and steel fortune.

The couple welcomed their only daughter, Elizabeth Muhlenberg Brooke, on April 25, 1916.

Legacy and Final Years

Lucile remained active in society circles throughout the 1920s and early 1930s. She maintained close friendships with fellow Titanic survivor Eleanor Widener (later Mrs. Alexander H. Rice) and continued to host lavish events at her various residences.

How did Lucile Carter’s life end?

Tragically, Lucile’s life was cut short. She passed away suddenly on October 26, 1934, at the age of 59 (fifty-nine). She died of a heart attack at her country house “Almonbury” in Ithan, Pennsylvania. Lucile was buried in St Michael’s Cemetery, Birdsboro, Pennsylvania.

Her widower, George Brooke, never remarried and died on August 10, 1953, at the age of 86 (eighty-six). He was interred with Lucile.

The Carter-Brooke Legacy

Lucile’s children went on to lead interesting lives:

Lucile Polk Carter (1898-1962) became a socialite in her own right
William Thornton II Carter (1900-1985) carried on the Carter family name
Elizabeth “Betty” Muhlenberg Brooke (1916-2016) became a well-known socialite and art collector, living to the remarkable age of 100 (one hundred)

Lucile Carter’s life, from her glamorous beginnings to her harrowing Titanic experience and subsequent reinvention, continues to captivate those interested in the Gilded Age and the Titanic’s legacy. Her story serves as a testament to the resilience and complexity of the human spirit in the face of both tragedy and social expectations.