Seafaring Apprenticeship Begins
Begins a seafaring apprenticeship with A. Gibson and Company of Liverpool and starts his professional life at sea.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Edward John Smith Biography and Timeline
Follow Edward John Smith through 45 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Edward John Smith, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
45Distinct records
1 of 2Page
1869–1912Years on this page
1869
1875
Master Certificate Obtained
Passes the examination for his master's certificate and qualifies for command in the British merchant service.
1886
White Star Officer Service Begins
Begins documented White Star Line service as a junior deck officer aboard the company's Atlantic steamships.
1887
First White Star Command
Receives his first White Star Line command and begins a long career as one of the company's captains.
1888
Cufic Maiden Voyage Command
Commands Cufic on her maiden voyage as his responsibilities within the White Star fleet continue to increase.
1889
Coptic Australian Service Command
Takes command of Coptic for White Star service connected with the Australian trade.
1895
Majestic Command Begins
Takes command of Majestic and remains associated with the liner for much of the following decade.
1900
Majestic Boer War Transport Service
Commands Majestic on troop-transport voyages connected with British operations during the South African War.
1904
Baltic Maiden Voyage Command
Commands Baltic on her maiden voyage as White Star entrusts him with another of its newest large liners.
1907
Adriatic Maiden Voyage Command
Commands Adriatic on her maiden voyage and continues his role as a senior White Star commander.
1911
Olympic Hawke Collision
Commands Olympic when the liner collides with the Royal Navy cruiser HMS Hawke in the Solent.
Olympic Returns after Hawke Collision
Returns Olympic toward Southampton after the collision with HMS Hawke leaves the liner seriously damaged.
Olympic Maiden Voyage Command
Commands Olympic on her maiden voyage as White Star places its newest Olympic-class liner under his authority.
Smith Commands Olympic Maiden Atlantic Voyage
Edward John Smith captained Olympic on her first commercial voyage, introducing the new liner to North Atlantic service.
Olympic Collides with HMS Hawke
Edward John Smith commanded Olympic when it collided with the cruiser HMS Hawke, forcing repairs and a temporary disruption to service.
Smith Oversees Olympic Emergency Procedures
Edward John Smith's command experience aboard Olympic informed the operational practices used on White Star's large liners.
1912
Olympic Propeller Blade Damage
Remains in command when Olympic loses a propeller blade but completes the voyage under her own power.
Titanic Command Appointment
Receives command of Titanic for the new liner's maiden voyage after serving as White Star's senior Olympic-class captain.
Titanic Sea Trials Command
Commands Titanic during her sea trials in Belfast Lough before the ship is accepted for service.
Titanic Cherbourg Call
Commands Titanic during the evening call at Cherbourg, where additional passengers join the maiden voyage.
Titanic Southampton Departure
Commands Titanic as the liner departs Southampton on her maiden voyage to New York.
Titanic Queenstown Departure
Commands Titanic as the liner leaves Queenstown on the final European leg of the maiden voyage.
Baltic Ice Message Acknowledged
Receives Baltic's detailed ice report and acknowledges the message during the afternoon of 14 April.
Baltic Ice Warning Reviewed
Receives the Baltic warning reporting icebergs and field ice near Titanic's intended route.
Baltic Wireless Reply
Sends Baltic a reply thanking the ship for its message and good wishes and reporting fine weather.
Bridge Return after Collision
Returns to Titanic's bridge immediately after the iceberg collision and begins assessing the ship's condition.
Caronia Ice Warning Received
Receives and acknowledges Caronia's warning reporting icebergs, growlers and field ice ahead of Titanic's route.
Ice Conditions Discussed with Lightoller
Discusses the reported ice with Second Officer Lightoller before leaving standing instructions for the night watch.
CQD Distress Transmission Ordered
Authorizes transmission of CQD distress calls so nearby ships can be summoned to Titanic's position.
Damage Reports Received
Receives reports of water entering forward compartments and learns that Titanic's damage is severe.
Distress Rockets Ordered
Orders or authorizes distress rockets to be fired at intervals in an attempt to attract nearby vessels.
Final Command during Sinking
Remains responsible for Titanic during the final evacuation as the ship settles lower and the remaining boats are launched.
Lost with Titanic
Dies when Titanic sinks after remaining aboard during the evacuation and final emergency.
Megaphone Evacuation Direction
Uses a megaphone on the boat deck while directing passengers and reinforcing the women-and-children evacuation priority.
Rescue Ships Boat Readiness Message
Has a wireless message sent advising responding ships to prepare their boats because Titanic is sinking.
Titanic Evacuation Ordered
Directs officers to uncover and load the lifeboats after the seriousness of Titanic's damage becomes clear.
Wireless Distress Calls Authorized
Orders Titanic's wireless operators to call for assistance after the seriousness of the flooding becomes apparent.
Women Entering Boats Wireless Report
Has wireless traffic report that women are being placed into Titanic's lifeboats during the evacuation.
Women and Children Priority
Directs that women and children receive priority as Titanic's lifeboats are loaded and lowered.
Blue Ensign Entitlement
Carries the distinction associated with his Royal Naval Reserve status while commanding Titanic.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.