Mr Peter Dennis Daly

Who was Peter Dennis Daly?

Mr Peter Dennis Daly was a 51 (fifty-one) year-old English businessman and first-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic. Born on July 17, 1860, in Liscard, England, Daly survived the tragic sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. His remarkable life spanned continents, languages, and one of the most infamous maritime disasters in history.

Early Life and Multilingual Education

What was Peter Dennis Daly’s background?

Peter Dennis Daly was born into a family with Irish and French roots. His father, John Bernard Daly, descended from the O’Dalaigh and O’Neill families of Ireland, while his mother, Isabel Fermina Charon, was of French descent. Growing up near Liverpool, England, young Peter had the River Mersey as his backdrop.

Daly’s education was impressive and set the stage for his future success:

• Graduated from Cambridge University with honors
• Mastered 7 languages:
  1. English
  2. Spanish
  3. French
  4. German
  5. Italian
  6. Greek
  7. Latin

This linguistic prowess would prove invaluable in his later business endeavors and international travels.

A New Life in South America

After completing his studies, Peter Dennis Daly’s father gifted him a ticket to South America, a decision that would shape the course of his life. In Peru, he met and fell in love with Rosalba Ramos, a woman of Spanish descent born in Peru. They married on July 9, 1887, beginning a new chapter in Daly’s life.

A commemorative medal was cast for their wedding, measuring about 30 mm in diameter and bearing the names of Peter Daly and Maria Rosalba Ramos.

Family Life in Peru

Peter and Rosalba built a large family together:

• 10 children in total
• 5 boys: Nicanor, Alejandro, Ricardo, Enrique (who died in his early teens), and Miguel
• 5 girls: Ines, Rosa, Isabel, Maria (Mary), and one who did not survive to adulthood

Two of their sons later moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, expanding the family’s presence in South America.

Business and the Fateful Titanic Journey

What brought Peter Dennis Daly to the Titanic?

As the Lima, Peru representative of the London firm Haes & Sons, Daly traveled to London on business in 1912. For his return journey, he decided to book passage on the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic, departing from Southampton.

The Night of the Disaster

How did Peter Dennis Daly survive the Titanic sinking?

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, as the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, Daly took several crucial steps:

1. Changed from dinner clothes into warm attire, including boots and an overcoat
2. Secured his valuables in a money belt, including:
   • Passport
   • Cash
   • Silver cigarette case containing a Holy Stamp of “Our Mother of Perpetual Help”

Daly remained on deck as long as possible, helping others. In a dramatic turn of events, while assisting a female passenger, he was washed overboard by a wave that rolled along the boat deck. After swimming in the frigid Atlantic waters, Daly was fortunately picked up by a collapsible lifeboat.

Rescue and Return to Peru

Peter Dennis Daly survived the Titanic disaster and was taken to New York aboard the Carpathia. His eldest son, Nicanor, who was living and working in New York City at the time, traced his father to a New York hospital.

What were the long-term effects of the Titanic disaster on Daly?

After recovering in New York, Daly returned to his family in Lima, Peru. However, the ordeal left lasting physical impacts:

• Every winter, he suffered from pain in his legs due to the hypothermia experienced in the icy Atlantic waters
• He sought relief by taking baths in hot springs to alleviate the pain

Later Life and Legacy

Peter Dennis Daly lived for another two decades after the Titanic disaster. He was known as a quiet man who enjoyed:

• Spending long hours in his vegetable garden
• Eating red radishes dipped in salt
• Playing chess via mail with overseas opponents, showcasing his patience
• Teaching card games, especially solitaire, to his grandchildren

Daly’s legacy lives on through his descendants, including his granddaughter Rosalba Daly, born on the anniversary of the Titanic sinking in 1921, who became an artist and teacher in Lima, Peru.

Peter Dennis Daly Charon passed away on December 24, 1932, at the age of 72 (seventy-two) in Lima, Peru, leaving behind a remarkable story of survival and a large, international family spanning multiple continents.