Mr Reginald Fenton Butler: A Titanic Victim’s Tale

Mr Reginald Fenton Butler was a 25 (twenty-five) year-old English mechanical engineer who tragically lost his life in the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, in 1886, Butler’s journey from a hotel proprietor’s son to a Titanic passenger is a poignant story of ambition and fate.

Early Life and Family Background

What was Reginald Butler’s upbringing like?

Reginald Butler was born in the summer of 1886 to William Francis Butler and Susannah Haryott. His father, a hotel proprietor and licensed victualler, owned the Granada Hotel in Portsmouth. Reginald grew up with three siblings:

Frank Arthur (born 1878)
Harry (born 1880)
Edgar John (born 1882)

Tragedy struck the family when Reginald’s mother passed away in 1894. Two years later, his father remarried Charlotte Frances Allen. The family continued to live at the Granada Hotel, as evidenced by the 1901 census.

How did family losses shape Reginald’s early adulthood?

Reginald faced significant losses in his early adulthood:

His father died on April 5, 1904
His stepmother Charlotte passed away on January 7, 1909

These events led to Reginald’s brother Edgar taking over the ownership of the Granada Hotel.

Emigration to America

What prompted Reginald’s move to the United States?

In 1909, at the age of 23 (twenty-three), Reginald Butler decided to seek new opportunities in America. He arrived in New York aboard the Oceanic on April 8, 1909. Butler’s immigration record described him as:

An unmarried engineer
6'1" tall
Brown hair and blue eyes
Fresh complexion

Initially, Butler traveled with friends to Fennville, Michigan. However, by the 1910 census, he had moved to Loma, Mesa County, Colorado, where he worked as an odd jobs laborer.

The Fateful Titanic Journey

Why was Reginald Butler returning to America on the Titanic?

In early 1912, Butler returned to Britain for a short holiday to visit relatives. For his return journey to America, he booked passage on the Titanic as a second-class passenger. He boarded the ship in Southampton on April 10, 1912, with ticket number 234686, which cost £13.

“Among the second-class passengers who sailed in the Titanic was Mr Reginald Butler, son of Mrs Butler of the ‘Granada’ Hotel, Southsea. Mr Reginald Butler had been home from the States on a short holiday.” - Portsmouth Evening News, April 16, 1912

Fate During the Disaster

Tragically, Reginald Butler did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. His body, numbered 97, was later recovered by the Mackay Bennett. The body recovery report provides a poignant glimpse into his final moments:

Detail	Description
Estimated Age	42
Clothing	Black suit
Effects	Gold watch and chain, silver cigarette case, gold match box, knife, fountain pen, memo book, Oddfellows’ stud, letter case and pocket book with £60 2s

Butler’s body was buried at Fairview Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on May 3, 1912.

Legacy and Estate

What became of Reginald Butler’s estate?

Following his death, Reginald Butler’s estate, valued at £742, 7s, 10d, was administered to his brother Edgar on July 27, 1912. This substantial sum, equivalent to over £90,000 in today’s currency, suggests that Butler had achieved some financial success during his time in America.

Edgar Butler, who had taken over the family hotel business, continued to live and work in England. He passed away in Guildford, Surrey, on January 21, 1945, leaving behind a family of his own.

Reginald Fenton Butler’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the many lives cut short by the Titanic disaster. His journey from Portsmouth to America, and his tragic return voyage, encapsulates the dreams and aspirations of many who sought new opportunities across the Atlantic in the early 20th century.