Mr Victor Robins

Who was Victor Robins?

Victor Robins was a 45 (forty-five) year-old English servant who perished in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. He served as the butler and valet to the wealthy businessman John Jacob Astor, one of the most prominent victims of the disaster.

Early Life and Background

A London Upbringing

Born on March 29, 1867, in Westminster, London, Victor Robins came from a working-class family. His father, Arthur John Robins, was a Birmingham-born stonemason, while his mother, Mary Ann Forbes, hailed from Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Victor was one of eight siblings, with six known to us:

• Oliver (b. 1871)
• Arthur (b. 1873)
• Philip (b. 1875)
• Eleanor Elizabeth (b. 1878)
• William (b. 1880)
• Lillian (b. 1884)

From London to New York

Victor’s early life in London was marked by several moves:

1. 1871: Living in Reeves Mews, St George’s, London
2. 1881: Moved to 4 Percy Road, Hammersmith

By 1881, Victor had left school but had no stated profession. His life took a significant turn when he left England for New York on June 28, 1890, where he began his career as a butler.

Life in America

Building a Family

After settling in New York, Victor married Louisa De Loye, a French-born woman, on October 26, 1861. The couple had one child:

• George Victor (born May 26, 1894)

The Robins family made their home in Manhattan, appearing in the 1905 census as residents of East 53rd Street.

Career as a Butler

Victor’s career as a butler flourished in New York:

• April 25, 1906: Became a naturalized U.S. citizen
• Address at naturalization: 840 Fifth Avenue, New York City
• December 1909: Described as “Astor valet” on a westbound voyage aboard Kaiser Wilhelm Der Grosse
• June 1911: Accompanied John Jacob Astor on a voyage aboard La Provence

The Titanic Journey

Why was Victor Robins on the Titanic?

Victor Robins boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg on April 10, 1912, as part of John Jacob Astor’s entourage. The Astors were returning from their honeymoon in Europe following a high-profile marriage.

Titanic Boarding Details

Victor traveled with:

• John Jacob Astor
• Madeleine Talmage Astor (Astor’s new wife)
• Rosalie Bidois (Madeleine’s maid)

Fate During the Disaster

Tragically, Victor Robins did not survive the sinking of the Titanic. He perished along with his employer, John Jacob Astor, in the early hours of April 15, 1912. His body, if recovered, was never identified.

Legacy and Family Aftermath

The loss of Victor Robins had a profound impact on his family:

• His widow, Louisa, never remarried and continued to live in Manhattan with their son George.
• George Robins became an electrical engineer and married Catherine Maroney, a nurse from Maryland.
• George and Catherine settled in Queens, New York, but had no children.
• George passed away on February 6, 1945.
• Louisa, having outlived both her husband and son, died on December 23, 1946, at the age of 85 in Flushing, New York.
• Louisa was buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Queens.

Victor Robins’ story serves as a poignant reminder of the many lives touched by the Titanic disaster, from the wealthy passengers to the dedicated staff who served them. His role as John Jacob Astor’s valet places him at the center of one of the most famous narratives of the Titanic’s ill-fated voyage, highlighting the diverse backgrounds of those aboard the first-class passengers of the ship.