Captain Sir Arthur H. Rostron, K.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.

Captain Rostron of the Carpathia - 1912. © Bain News Service. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (LC-USZ62-121011). GGA Image ID # 10d65866e7

Arthur H. Rostron, Captain for the Cunard Line, was the master of the ocean liner RMS Carpathia when it rescued the survivors of RMS Titanic, which sank on April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg.

For his extraordinary efforts to reach the Titanic before it sank and his meticulous preparations for and conduct of the rescue of the survivors, Captain Rostron was hailed as a hero, a beacon of courage and determination.

The U.S. Congress awarded him a Congressional Gold Medal, and after World War I, he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He was made the Commodore of the Cunard fleet before retiring in 1931.

Captain Arthur Rostron by James Bisset (Tramps and Ladies)

The S.S. Brescia, a 3,235-ton steel-hulled, single-screw steamer, was a remarkable vessel. Measuring 343 feet in length and 45 feet in beam, she boasted a distinctive 'three island' profile, with a raised fo'c'sle head, midship house, and poop. Her well decks, fore and aft, each with two hatchways opening to her four cargo holds, allowed her to carry a substantial 4,000 tons of cargo.

The Brescia's single stumpy funnel abaft the bridge and two steel masts, each sixty feet high and fitted with derricks, were not the only impressive features of the ship. Her cabins amidships and the crew's quarters fore and aft were well found, boasting furniture, carpets, curtains, and other quality fittings that were a rarity in cargo steamers, adding a touch of luxury to her utilitarian role.

Despite being secondhand from some of the Company's earlier-day passenger liners, which were either scrapped or refitted, the cabins amidships and the crew's quarters fore and aft of the Brescia were well found, with furniture, carpets, curtains, and other quality fittings that were a testament to the luxury that the Brescia and the other Cunard cargo steamers offered, putting them in a class by themselves.

The Master of the Brescia was Captain Arthur H. Rostron, who had attained his first command in the Cunard service at forty. Born in Bolton, Lancashire, in 1869, he served in sailing ships around Cape Horn and was the First Mate of a clipper ship, Cedric the Saxon.

Rostron's career in the Cunard service began in the 1890s as a junior officer in the Umbria, Etruria, and Campania. His skills and dedication were quickly recognized, and he was appointed Chief Officer in the Pannonia on her maiden voyage in 1903. His performance in this role led to his appointment as Chief Officer in the Lusitania on her trials in 1907, a position in which he excelled and was subsequently promoted to Captain in the Company's service, given command of the Brescia.

Arthur Rostron was a great seaman who eventually (in 1928) became Commodore of the Cunard Line and was knighted. I had the privilege of serving under his command later in the Carpathia and the Mauretania, in the Brescia, and, later, again in the gigantic Berengaria.

At all times, I had the greatest respect for him as a seaman, a disciplinarian, and a man who could quickly make a decision—and stick to it. He was not the burly type of jolly old sea dog. Far from it, he was of thin and wiry build, with sharp features, piercing blue eyes, and rapid, agile movements.

His nickname in the Cunard service was "the Electric Spark," which somewhat described his dynamic quality. He was austere in his habits and had solid religious convictions.

Despite his personal beliefs being his own and not discussed on board the ship, Captain Rostron's unwavering faith in the power of prayer was a source of inspiration. When everything was going smoothly on the bridge, I witnessed him stand a little to one side, close his eyes, and lift his uniform cap two or three inches above his head, his lips moving in silent prayer.

His faith was genuine, and we respected him for it. In addition to years of uncompromising service in sail, he had qualified as an officer in the Royal Naval Reserve on a voyage in a British warship on the China station during the Spanish-American war.

He had seen life in the rough and the raw, afloat, and ashore, but his religious faith remained his source of inner strength. He was not a typical shipmaster, either in appearance or in his inner righteousness. Yet, in any nautical crisis or routine work, he was excellent in his profession: one of the greatest merchant sea captains of his time.

Captain Arthur Henry Rostron Next to the Silver Loving Cup Presented to Him in May 1912 by Survivors of the Titanic in Recognition of His Heroism in Their Rescue. © Bain News Service. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (LC-DIG-ggbain-10426). GGA Image ID # 100cc5cbfb

Captain Rostron and Under Officers of the Carpathia. Photo shows Captain Arthur Henry Rostron next to the silver loving cup presented to him in May 1912 by survivors of the Titanic in recognition of his heroism in their rescue. (Source: Flickr Commons project, 2008) © Bain News Service. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (LC-DIG-ggbain-10428). GGA Image ID # 10db7fb4e9

Photocopy of Hand-Written Account by Captain A. H. Rostron of the R.M.S. Carpathia Describing His Response to the Distress Signal of the Titanic on 15 April 1912. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (LC-USZ62-64157). GGA Image ID # 100d7296d0

Mrs. J. J. Brown Presenting Trophy Cup Award to Capt. Arthur Henry Roston, for His Service in the Rescue of the Titanic. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (LC-USZ62-121013). GGA Image ID # 100c6a1f54

The S.S. Carpathia Docked in New York - 1912. © Bain News Service. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (LC-USZ62-71128). GGA Image ID # 10d59e553b

Captain Rostron of the Carpathia with His Wife - 25 February 1913. © Bain News Service. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (LC-USZ62-105865). GGA Image ID # 10d6153c66

Medal Presented by President William Howard Taft to Captain A. Rostron, Rescuer of Survivors of Titanic. © Harris & Ewing 1912. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division (LC-DIG-hec-01692). GGA Image ID # 10db2b4ace

1921-04-30 RMS Mauretania Passenger List

Steamship Line: Cunard Line

Class of Passengers: Cabin

Date of Departure: 30 April 1921

Route: Southampton to New York via Cherbourg

Commander: Captain Sir Arthur H. Rostron, C.B.E., R.D., R.N.R.

Notable Passengers (VIP Travelers): Rt. Hon. The Earl of Iveagh, K.P., Sir Frederick Orr-Lewis, Bart., The Hon. Thomas Nelson Page, Mrs. Keith Merrill, Hon. Philippe Paradis and Family, Mrs. E. E. W. Foulke, and Dr. William T. Gardiner.