RMS Titanic · permanent subject timeline

Herbert Pitman

Third officer and lifeboat commander. This page combines historical context with 4 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database Titanic archive.

4 matching archive records 1912–1912 record span Open full 241-record archive

Historical context

Herbert Pitman: overview and significance

What happened?

Herbert Pitman was Titanic's third officer and left the ship in charge of a lifeboat during the evacuation. He survived and later testified about the sinking.

Why was it important?

Pitman's evidence contributed to inquiry understanding of lifeboat launching, conditions after the sinking and the decisions made by officers in the boats.

World History Database records

Herbert Pitman timeline

The records below are selected from the 241-record RMS Titanic archive and rendered as static HTML in chronological order.

1912

1912 2nd April

Titanic Lifeboat Inspection

Herbert John Pitman · Third Officer · Great Britain · Belfast

Inspects port-side lifeboats and their equipment before Titanic enters passenger service.

1912 2nd April

Titanic Sea Trials Officer

Herbert John Pitman · Third Officer · Great Britain · Belfast Lough

Joins Titanic's officers for sea trials before the ship leaves Belfast for Southampton.

1912 15th April

Titanic Lifeboat Five

Herbert John Pitman · Third Officer · Great Britain · North Atlantic

Leaves Titanic in lifeboat number 5 while assisting the evacuation.

1912 22nd May

British Inquiry Evidence

Herbert John Pitman · Third Officer · Great Britain · London

Describes his officer duties, command of lifeboat 5 and the debate over returning toward people in the water.

Editorial provenance

Sources and editorial review

Compiled and edited by World History Database.

Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database Titanic records.

Last reviewed: September 2026.

Royal Museums Greenwich · U.S. Senate Titanic Hearings

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