Thomas Joseph McCormack

Who was Thomas Joseph McCormack?

Thomas Joseph McCormack was a 19 (nineteen) year-old Irish barman who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Born on December 12, 1892, in Glenmore, Ballinamuck, Co Longford, Ireland, McCormack’s life would be forever changed by his experience on the ill-fated ship. His survival story is one of determination and luck, highlighting the chaotic nature of the Titanic disaster.

Early Life and Background

What was McCormack’s family like?

Thomas Joseph McCormack came from a large Irish farming family:

• Parents: Bernard McCormack (b. 1843) and Maria McKenna (b. 1842)
• Siblings: Hugh (b. 1872), John (b. 1877), Catherine (b. 1887), and five others who did not survive infancy
• Grandfather: Hugh McCormack, who headed the household in the 1901 census

How did McCormack’s early career develop?

In 1910, at the age of 17 (seventeen), McCormack emigrated to the United States. He settled in Bayonne, New Jersey, where he:

• Worked as a bartender
• Lived at 38 West 20th Street
• Gained experience that would later lead him to run his own pub

The Titanic Journey

Why was McCormack on the Titanic?

Thomas McCormack had returned to Ireland for a visit in early 1912. To return to America, he booked passage on the Titanic, embarking at Queenstown (now Cobh) as a third-class passenger.

Titanic Ticket Details:

Who was McCormack traveling with?

McCormack was not alone on his journey. He was traveling with several others from Co Longford, including:

• The Murphy sisters
• The McCoy siblings
• His cousins John Joseph Kiernan and Philip Kiernan

The Fateful Night

What happened to McCormack when the Titanic struck the iceberg?

On the night of April 14, 1912, McCormack’s life changed forever:

1. He was asleep in his cabin when the collision occurred
2. His cousins woke him up
3. He hurriedly dressed and left his cabin with the Kiernans
4. In the ensuing chaos, he became separated from his companions

How did McCormack survive the sinking?

McCormack’s survival story is both harrowing and controversial:

Thomas M’Cormick, who is in the hospital suffering from wounds in the head, declares that he jumped when the ship was sinking. He got his hands on the gunwale of a lifeboat, but members of the crew struck him on the head and tore his hands loose. After repeated efforts, he swam to another boat, and had the same reception. Finally two sisters (Mary and Kate Murphy) pulled him aboard, despite the efforts of the crew.

Examiner (Launceston, Tasmania) 23 April, 1912

This account suggests that McCormack:

• Jumped into the water from the sinking ship
• Attempted to board lifeboats multiple times
• Was repelled by crew members, sustaining head injuries
• Was ultimately saved by the Murphy sisters, who pulled him into their lifeboat

Life After the Titanic

How did the Titanic experience impact McCormack’s life?

The Titanic disaster marked a turning point in Thomas McCormack’s life:

• He was reunited with his brother-in-law Bernard Evers in New York after some confusion
• McCormack naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 1916
• He ran his own pub in Bayonne for twenty years
• Later, he worked as a security guard

What was McCormack’s personal life like after the Titanic?

Thomas McCormack was married twice:

1. First marriage to Johanna “Hannah” Nugent (née Barry), a widow 21 years his senior

   • Hannah had five children from her previous marriage
   • Their relationship was tumultuous, with McCormack once arrested for assaulting his stepson

2. Second marriage to Mary Ellen Donovan

   • They had no children
   • Mary Ellen passed away in 1962, leaving McCormack a widower

Legacy and Final Years

How did McCormack commemorate his Titanic experience?

Despite being bedridden in his later years, Thomas McCormack continued to share his Titanic story:

• He gave interviews about his experience up until the year before his death
• His accounts contributed to the historical record of the disaster

Where did Thomas McCormack spend his final days?

Thomas Joseph McCormack’s life came full circle:

• He lived at the John F. Kennedy Arms on 70 Westfield Avenue, Elizabeth, New Jersey
• He passed away on November 4, 1975, at the age of 82 (eighty-two)
• McCormack was laid to rest in Holy Name Cemetery, Jersey City, alongside his second wife

Thomas Joseph McCormack’s life story, from Irish farm boy to Titanic survivor and American publican, serves as a testament to the resilience of those who lived through one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters. His experiences on that fateful night in April 1912 shaped the course of his life and contributed to the rich tapestry of Titanic survivor stories.