Mrs Marian Longstreth Thayer

Who was Marian Longstreth Thayer?

Marian Longstreth Thayer was a 39 (thirty-nine) year-old American first-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic. Born on November 9, 1872, she was traveling with her husband John B. Thayer and son Jack Thayer when the ship tragically sank on its maiden voyage. Marian survived the disaster, but her husband did not.

Early Life and Background

Marian Longstreth Thayer, née Morris, was born into a prominent American family. She married John Borland Thayer, a successful businessman, and they resided in Haverford, Pennsylvania. The couple had at least one son, Jack, who accompanied them on their ill-fated journey aboard the Titanic.

The Titanic Journey

Why were the Thayers on the Titanic?

The Thayer family boarded the Titanic as first-class passengers in Cherbourg, France. They were returning to the United States after a European trip. Their accommodations were in cabin C68, and they traveled with Marian’s maid, Margaret Fleming.

• Ticket Number: 17421
• Fare: £110 8s (£110 and 8 shillings)
• Class: 1st Class

A Fateful Afternoon

On the afternoon of April 14, 1912, Marian Thayer had a significant encounter:

At around 5 p.m., Marian went to the stateroom of her friend Emily Ryerson to ask if she would care to join her for a walk. Mrs Ryerson agreed, which delighted Marian because it was the first time Mrs Ryerson had been on deck in public during the voyage.

During their walk, they were approached by Bruce Ismay, who warned them about the possibility of encountering icebergs in the area.

The Night of the Disaster

What happened to the Thayers when the Titanic struck the iceberg?

When the collision occurred, the Thayer family was preparing for bed. Jack Thayer went to investigate and returned to their stateroom with alarming news. Marian described the scene:

“I saw what looked like a number of long, black ribs, apparently floating nearly level with the surface of the water, parallel with each other… separated from each other by… two or three feet of water… the nearest one being probably twenty feet from the ship, and they extended from near the bow to about amidship. I saw no high iceberg at the time.”

Marian’s Escape

In the confusion that followed, Marian became separated from her husband and son. She and Miss Fleming made their way to the port side of A deck. Eventually, Marian and her husband reunited and waited to board lifeboat 4.

• Lifeboat 4 left the Titanic at 1:55 a.m.
• With only two seamen aboard, Marian and other ladies helped row the boat
• During the night, lifeboat 12 picked up survivors from the upturned collapsible B

Reunion and Aftermath

Marian was reunited with her son Jack at 8:30 a.m. when boat 12 arrived at the Carpathia. Tragically, her husband John B. Thayer did not survive the sinking.

After disembarking from the Carpathia, Marian, Jack, and Margaret Fleming traveled to Jersey City, NJ, and then took a private train back to Haverford.

Legacy and Later Life

How did Marian Thayer cope with the tragedy?

Marian Thayer never fully recovered from the loss of her husband. She continued to live in Haverford, Pennsylvania, and never remarried. Some notable events in her later life include:

• On May 31, 1912, she dined with fellow Titanic survivors Madeleine Astor and Florence Cumings, along with Captain Rostron and Dr. McGhee of the Carpathia
• She claimed compensation from White Star Line for the loss of luggage but not for her husband’s life

Marian Longstreth Thayer passed away on April 14, 1944, at the age of 71 (seventy-one), exactly 32 years after the Titanic disaster. Her story remains a poignant reminder of the human toll of that fateful night in 1912.