Titanic Survivor Lawrence Beesley: the Day of the Disaster

Lawrence Beesley was a second-class passenger on the ill-fated Titanic, the White Star Line Liner that sank on its maiden voyage on 15 April 1912. A Cambridge-educated teacher, he had recently resigned his post as science master at Dulwich College, London. He was travelling to America for an extended holiday and had aimed to visit his brother who was residing in Canada. Within weeks of … Continue reading Titanic Survivor Lawrence Beesley: the Day of the Disaster

This Week’s Second-hand Book Buys

There’s something about antique and second-hand bookshops that really appeal to me. I love the haphazard lines, the irregularity and the chance of finding a real gem of a book! I have filled what amounts to several bookshelves worth of books with acquisitions from such stores. Yesterday, on my travels, I came across a second-hand bookshop in Keswick and began exploring their history section. In … Continue reading This Week’s Second-hand Book Buys

Titanic Captain Edward John Smith Lived Here

On the night of 15 April 1912, Captain Edward John Smith died along with 1500 other people when RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the North Atlantic. Edward John Smith was born on 27 January 1850. In 1875 he earned his master’s certificate, a qualification necessary for him to serve as a ship’s captain. In 1880 he became a junior officer with the … Continue reading Titanic Captain Edward John Smith Lived Here

HistorianRuby is Two-Years-Old!

Saturday 2 June is my 2 year blogging anniversary! HistorianRuby has now published 93 articles! Have I favourites? Yes. You can’t help feeling more for the posts that you have put your heart and soul into for a period of research and I have many where I’ve immersed myself into the study of the topic and this passion is somehow conveyed in the writing. When … Continue reading HistorianRuby is Two-Years-Old!

Titanic: the Hero Musicians

The night of April 14/15 1912 will be remembered as the night the ‘unsinkable’ RMS Titanic sank. The ship struck an iceberg soon after 11.30 p.m. and it was gone by 2.20 a.m., with not enough lifeboats for the passengers and crew, women and children were placed into lifeboats that were scandalously nowhere near filled to capacity. More than 1500 people lost their lives,  only … Continue reading Titanic: the Hero Musicians