Mr Paul Romaine Marie Léonce CHEVRÉ

Who was Paul Chevré?

Paul Romaine Marie Léonce Chevré was a renowned Belgian sculptor and first-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born on July 5, 1866, in Brussels to French parents, Chevré demonstrated an early aptitude for sculpture and went on to become a highly respected artist, particularly known for his work in Canada.

Early Life and Artistic Career

How did Chevré’s artistic journey begin?

Paul Chevré’s artistic talents were evident from a young age, influenced by his father who ran a foundry. His formal artistic career began to take shape in the late 19th century:

1890: First exhibition in Paris
1896: Won commission for the Samuel de Champlain monument in Quebec City
1900: Awarded bronze medal for sculpture at the Paris International Exhibition

What were Chevré’s most notable works?

Chevré’s reputation was primarily built on his commissions in Canada. Some of his most significant sculptures include:

Samuel de Champlain monument (Quebec City, 1898)
Honoré Mercier statue (Quebec Legislature grounds, 1909)
François-Xavier Garneau statue (1911)
Sir Wilfrid Laurier bust (Château Laurier Hotel, Ottawa)

The Titanic Journey

Why was Chevré on the Titanic?

Paul Chevré boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg on April 10, 1912, as a first-class passenger. He was traveling to Canada for the official opening of the Château Laurier Hotel in Ottawa on April 26, where his bust of Sir Wilfrid Laurier was to be displayed.

Journey Details:

Ticket Number: PC 17594
Fare: £29 14s
Cabin: A-9

What happened on the night of the disaster?

On the evening of April 14, 1912, Chevré was playing cards in the Café Parisien with Pierre Maréchal, Alfred Fernand Omont, and Lucien Philip Smith. When the ship struck the iceberg, Chevré initially thought it too cold to investigate and asked a steward to look out of a porthole.

“Even though the accident didn’t appear to be serious, Chevré and Omont pocketed their cards and decided to get into one of the first lifeboats being lowered, No. 7.”

Survival and Aftermath

How did Chevré survive the Titanic disaster?

Paul Chevré was one of the fortunate survivors of the Titanic disaster. He boarded Lifeboat 7, one of the first to be lowered from the ship. Some of his companions chided him for getting into the boat, but Chevré wasn’t taking any chances.

What happened after Chevré’s rescue?

Following his rescue by the Carpathia, Chevré sent four telegrams to inform his contacts of his survival. Upon arrival in New York, he was interviewed by a reporter for the Montreal Herald, which led to a sensationalized and largely fabricated account of his experience.

Date	Time	Recipient	Message
April 17, 1912	7:40 am	Philéas Corriveau Quebec	“Sauvés par Carpathia allons New York”
April 17, 1912	12:39 pm	Chevré 33 Chateau Asnieres Paris	“Sauvés par Carpathia allons New York”
April 17, 1912	3:11 pm	Chevré 33 Chateau Asnieres Paris	“Sauvés receuillis Carpathia allons New York”
April 18, 1912	6:2 am	Corriveau 85 La Boetie Paris	“Sauvés par Carpathia allons New York”

Setting the Record Straight

How did Chevré respond to the false reports?

On April 22, 1912, Chevré arrived in Montreal and immediately went to the French language daily, La Presse, to correct the misinformation published about him. He vehemently denied the sensationalized account, stating:

“Everything that had been written about him in English was a tissue of lies.”

He clarified that:

Captain Smith had not committed suicide
The bust of Sir Wilfrid Laurier was safe and not lost in the sinking
The marble bust, weighing 7,445 pounds, was actually aboard the Bretagne

Later Life and Legacy

What impact did the Titanic disaster have on Chevré’s life?

After the Titanic disaster, Chevré remained in Quebec for six months, during which he received a commission for the statue of Marianne outside the Union Française in Montreal. Despite his prolific work in Canada over 14 years, Chevré returned to France and never sailed again, suggesting a lasting impact from the traumatic event.

Paul Chevré passed away in Paris on February 20, 1914, at the age of 47 (forty-seven). His obituary in the Montreal Gazette poignantly noted, “Paul Chevré was a passenger on the ill-fated Titanic, and although he survived the shock, it is doubtful he ever recovered from it.”

Paul Chevré’s legacy lives on through his sculptures, which continue to grace public spaces in Canada, serving as a testament to his artistic talent and the indelible mark he left on Canadian art history, despite the shadow cast by his Titanic experience.