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Edward J. Smith
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The ā€œMillionaire's Captainā€ Historic black and white photo of the RMS Titanic at sea, showing its four large smokestacks and long, sleek hull.
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View of the ROV Hercules investigating the stern of Titanic during a 2004 expedition deployed from the NOAA ship, the Ronald H. Brown. (disasters, ships)
The Titanic

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The ā€œMillionaire's Captainā€
The ā€œMillionaire's Captainā€ Edward J. Smith.

Edward J. Smith

British captain
Written by
Amy Tikkanen
Amy Tikkanen is Managing Editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica.
Amy Tikkanen
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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ā€¢History

Edward J. Smith (born January 27, 1850, Hanley [now in Stoke-on-Trent], Staffordshire, Englandā€”died April 15, 1912, at sea, northern Atlantic Ocean) was the British captain of the passenger liner Titanic, which sank in 1912. Smith began working on boats while he was a teenager. In 1875 he earned a masterā€™s certificate, which was required to serve as captain. In 1880 he became a junior officer with the White Star Line, and seven years later he...

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