Mr Mark Fortune

Who was Mark Fortune?

Mr Mark Fortune was a 64 (sixty-four) year-old Canadian businessman and first-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic. Born on November 2, 1847, in Carluke, Ontario, Fortune made his fortune through real estate speculation in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was traveling with his family on the Titanic’s maiden voyage when tragedy struck, leading to his untimely death on April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Rise to Prosperity

From Farmer’s Son to Self-Made Millionaire

Mark Fortune’s journey from humble beginnings to wealth is a testament to his entrepreneurial spirit. Born to a farmer, he left home as a teenager with ambitious dreams, spending several years in San Francisco. In 1871, Fortune made a pivotal move to the newly established Canadian province of Manitoba, where he would build his legacy.

How did Mark Fortune make his fortune?

Mark Fortune’s keen eye for opportunity led him to invest in real estate along the Assiniboine River. His most lucrative investment came when Winnipeg’s main thoroughfare, Portage Avenue, was surveyed and ran through much of his property. This strategic land ownership catapulted Fortune into prosperity.

Family and Community Involvement

In Manitoba, Fortune married Mary McDougald from Portage la Prairie. Together, they raised a family of six children:

• Robert
• Clara
• Ethel Flora
• Alice Elizabeth
• Mabel
• Charles Alexander

The Fortune family resided at 393 Wellington Crescent, Winnipeg, in a grand 36-room Tudor-style mansion built in 1911. Beyond his business pursuits, Mark Fortune was actively involved in his community:

• Served as a Winnipeg City Councillor
• Trustee of Knox Presbyterian Church
• Renowned as an expert curler

“His judgement was sound, his discrimination keen, his life purpose high.” - Contemporary description of Mark Fortune

The Titanic Journey

Why was Mark Fortune on the Titanic?

In 1912, Mark Fortune embarked on a European vacation with his family. After touring the continent, they decided to return to Canada aboard the luxurious RMS Titanic. The Fortune family boarded the ship at Southampton as first-class passengers, occupying cabins C-23-25-27.

Titanic Ticket Details

A Fateful Meeting

During their European tour, the Fortune family met William T. Sloper. Reportedly, Sloper was so enamored with Alice Fortune that he changed his travel plans, canceling his passage on the Mauretania to join the Fortunes on the Titanic.

The Night of the Disaster

Mark Fortune’s Last Hours

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, as the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, Mark Fortune displayed his characteristic humor and practicality. He came up on deck wearing his beloved Winnipeg Buffalo Coat, a heavy fur garment he always traveled with despite his wife’s protests. Fortune joked that the coat had indeed “come in handy in the cold night.”

What happened to Mark Fortune and his family?

Tragically, Mark Fortune and his son Charles Alexander did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. Their bodies were never recovered from the icy Atlantic waters. However, Fortune’s wife Mary Fortune and daughters Alice Elizabeth Fortune, Ethel Flora Fortune, and Mabel Helen Fortune were among the survivors of the disaster.

Legacy and Remembrance

How is Mark Fortune remembered in Winnipeg?

The loss of Mark Fortune deeply affected the Winnipeg community. In honor of his memory:

• Chimes were installed in Winnipeg’s Knox United Church, dedicated to Mark Fortune
• His mansion at 393 Wellington Crescent, though now converted into condominiums, still stands as a testament to his success and impact on the city

The Fortune Family’s Enduring Story

The Fortune family’s experience on the Titanic serves as a poignant reminder of the tragedy that befell so many families that fateful night. Their story, intertwining success, adventure, and ultimately loss, continues to captivate those interested in the Titanic’s history and the lives of its passengers.

Mark Fortune’s legacy lives on not only through the physical reminders in Winnipeg but also through the survival of his wife and daughters, who carried his memory and continued his family line after the disaster.