Famous figures who had Titanic tickets but didn't make it onboard

Gabbi ShawJun 28, 2023, 22:23 IST

The Titanic (top) with Milton Hershey, J. Pierpont Morgan, and Henry Clay Frick.Public domain; Getty Images

As the Titanic was the height of luxury in 1912, some celebrities had tickets for its maiden voyage.
But not all of them ended up boarding the ship.

The sinking of the Titanic in April 1912 still captivates us today, with numerous books, a multi-billion-dollar movie, museums, and, controversially, tours to the site of the wreckage available.

Interest around the ship led to another maritime tragedy in June 2023, when a submersible went missing on the way to the wreckage and was eventually confirmed to have imploded, killing all five people onboard. Stories have since emerged about people who were invited to take part in one of OceanGate's trips, but decided against it — much like, over 100 years ago, how people were fascinated with who had almost been on the Titanic.

Here are seven notable figures who were supposed to sail on the Titanic's maiden voyage but didn't — and four well-known people who were booked to go on a future journey with the ship.

Milton Hershey, of Hershey's chocolate, sent the White Star Line a $300 check to reserve a spot on the Titanic, but he ended up sailing home on the SS Amerika instead.

Milton Hershey.Bettmann/Getty Images

J. Pierpont Morgan (yes, J. P. Morgan himself) had a personal suite on the Titanic and had attended its launch party in 1911. But he extended his French vacation and missed the sinking.

J. Pierpont Morgan.CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images

J. Pierpont Morgan (yes, J. P. Morgan himself) had a personal suite on the Titanic and had attended its launch party in 1911. But he extended his French vacation and missed the sinking.

Inventor of the radio and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi opted to head to the US three days earlier on the Lusitania, forgoing a free ticket on the Titanic.

Guglielmo Marconi.Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images

Henry Clay Frick, chairman of the Carnegie Steel Company, missed the sailing of the Titanic because his wife sprained her ankle in Italy and needed to be hospitalized.

Henry Clay Frick.Bettmann/Getty Images

Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt canceled his ticket on the Titanic at the last minute and saved his own life — but only for a few years. He was on board the Lusitania when it was sunk by a German U-boat in May 1915.

A cartoon of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt.Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt canceled his ticket on the Titanic at the last minute and saved his own life — but only for a few years. He was on board the Lusitania when it was sunk by a German U-boat in May 1915.

American journalist Theodore Dreiser was persuaded by his publisher to take a cheaper ship home across the Atlantic.

Theodore Dreiser.Bettmann/Getty Images

John Mott, another Nobel Prize winner, was also offered a free ticket on the ship, but he chose a smaller ship, the Lapland, instead.

John R. Mott.Bettman/Getty Images

There were other celebrities who had tickets to sail the Titanic in the future, had it not sank. J.C. Penney was set to sail on the ship's next trip from England to New York.

James Cash Penney, aka J.C. Penney.Underwood Archives/Getty Images

There were other celebrities who had tickets to sail the Titanic in the future, had it not sank. J.C. Penney was set to sail on the ship's next trip from England to New York.

Frank Seiberling, the co-founder of Goodyear Tires, was booked to return to Southampton on the Titanic's next voyage.

Frank Seiberling.Heritage Art/Heritage Images/Getty Images

So was John Alden Dix, the governor of New York.

John A. Dix.Heritage Art/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Henry Adams, a descendant of President John Adams and President John Quincy Adams, was also booked on this trip.

Henry Brooks Adams.Culture Club/Bridgeman/Getty Images

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Famous figures who had Titanic tickets but didn't make it onboard

Milton Hershey, of Hershey's chocolate, sent the White Star Line a $300 check to reserve a spot on the Titanic, but he ended up sailing home on the SS Amerika instead.

J. Pierpont Morgan (yes, J. P. Morgan himself) had a personal suite on the Titanic and had attended its launch party in 1911. But he extended his French vacation and missed the sinking.

Inventor of the radio and Nobel Prize winner Guglielmo Marconi opted to head to the US three days earlier on the Lusitania, forgoing a free ticket on the Titanic.

Henry Clay Frick, chairman of the Carnegie Steel Company, missed the sailing of the Titanic because his wife sprained her ankle in Italy and needed to be hospitalized.

Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt canceled his ticket on the Titanic at the last minute and saved his own life — but only for a few years. He was on board the Lusitania when it was sunk by a German U-boat in May 1915.

American journalist Theodore Dreiser was persuaded by his publisher to take a cheaper ship home across the Atlantic.

John Mott, another Nobel Prize winner, was also offered a free ticket on the ship, but he chose a smaller ship, the Lapland, instead.

There were other celebrities who had tickets to sail the Titanic in the future, had it not sank. J.C. Penney was set to sail on the ship's next trip from England to New York.

Frank Seiberling, the co-founder of Goodyear Tires, was booked to return to Southampton on the Titanic's next voyage.

So was John Alden Dix, the governor of New York.

Henry Adams, a descendant of President John Adams and President John Quincy Adams, was also booked on this trip.