Robert Williams Daniel

Who was Robert Williams Daniel?

Robert Williams Daniel was a 27 (twenty-seven) year-old American banker and first-class passenger aboard the RMS Titanic. Born on September 11, 1884, in Richmond, Virginia, Daniel survived the tragic sinking of the Titanic on April 15, 1912. His life was marked by a series of remarkable events, from his dramatic escape from the sinking ship to his later success in business and his connections to prominent figures in American history.

Early Life and Background

A Distinguished Lineage

Robert Williams Daniel came from a notable American family:

• Great-grandson of Edward Randolph, the first Attorney General of the United States
• Born to James Robertson Vivian and Hallie Wise Daniel (née Williams)
• Native of Richmond, Virginia

Education and Early Career

Daniel’s early life was characterized by academic achievement and a swift entry into the business world:

• Graduated from the University of Virginia in 1903
• Initially worked in the traffic manager’s office of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad
• Entered the insurance business around 1905
• Became district superintendent for the Maryland Life Insurance Company
• Co-founded the insurance firm Daniel and Stearns in 1906

The Titanic Journey

Why was Robert Daniel on the Titanic?

Robert Daniel boarded the Titanic in Southampton on April 10, 1912, as a first-class passenger. He was returning to Philadelphia from a business trip to Europe, accompanied by a newly-purchased French bulldog.

Titanic Voyage Details

Fate During the Disaster

How did Robert Daniel survive the Titanic sinking?

The exact circumstances of Robert Daniel’s survival remain controversial. Various accounts exist:

1. Some reports claim he swam nude in the frigid North Atlantic for hours before being rescued.
2. More plausible accounts suggest he boarded one of the early lifeboats launched from the starboard side.

Daniel’s own account of the disaster was dramatic:

Robert Daniel, a Philadelphia passenger, told of terrible scenes at this period of the disaster. He said men fought and bit and struck one another like madmen, and exhibited wounds upon his face to prove the assertion. Mr Daniel said that he was picked up naked from the ice-cold water and almost perished from exposure before he was rescued.

What happened to Daniel’s companions?

According to some reports:

“George D. Widener and Harry Elkins Widener were among those who jumped at the last minute. So did Robert Williams Daniel. The three of them went down together. Daniel struck out, lashing the water with his arms until he had made a point far distant from the sinking monster of the sea. Later he was picked up by one of the passing life-boats.”

Daniel was rescued by Lifeboat 7, one of the first to leave the Titanic. Tragically, his newly acquired French bulldog did not survive the sinking.

Life After the Titanic

Romance Born from Tragedy

During the rescue voyage aboard the Carpathia, Daniel befriended Eloise Hughes Smith, an 18-year-old widow whose husband had perished in the sinking. Their shared experience led to a romance:

• Married on August 18, 1914
• Divorced in March 1923

Business and Personal Life

Robert Daniel’s life after the Titanic was marked by both professional success and personal challenges:

1. Married Margery Pitt Durant in 1923

   • Daughter of William Durant, founder of General Motors
   • Became president of Liberty National Bank in New York
   • Purchased Brandon-on-the-James plantation in Virginia
   • Divorced in July 1928

2. Married Charlotte Randolph Williams Bemiss in 1929

   • Had a son, Robert Williams Daniel Jr., born on March 17, 1936

Legacy and Final Years

How did Robert Daniel’s life end?

Robert Williams Daniel Sr. passed away on December 20, 1940, at the age of 56 (fifty-six), succumbing to cirrhosis of the liver. He was interred in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.

The Daniel Family Legacy

The Daniel family continued to make its mark on American society:

• Robert Williams Daniel Jr. graduated from the University of Virginia in 1958
• Worked as a financial analyst and taught Economics at the University of Richmond
• Spent four years working for the Central Intelligence Agency
• Served five terms in Congress representing Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District
• Passed away on February 4, 2012, at the age of 75 (seventy-five)

An Enduring Titanic Tale

Robert Williams Daniel’s story remains one of the most intriguing among Titanic survivors. From his dramatic escape from the sinking ship to his subsequent marriages and business success, Daniel’s life was anything but ordinary. His experience on the Titanic and his survival against the odds continue to captivate those interested in the ill-fated liner’s history, making him a notable figure in the annals of the Titanic disaster.