How many people were left stranded when the Lusitania sunk?
The often quoted number of 1,959 as total complement thus does not include the stowaways, which would bring the number up to 1,962. 159 Americans on board, 124 perished. 124 children on board, 94 perished, including 31 of 35 infants.
How many survivors of the Lusitania are still alive?
Lusitania Survivors. Of the 1,960 verified people on board Lusitania, 767 survived. Four ...
How many survived and how May died on the TIANIC?
How many lives were saved in the Titanic accident? On the Titanic, there were 12 notable persons who perished—and 11 who survived. On April 15, 1912, the Titanic, advertised as an unsinkable ship, collided with an iceberg and sunk.Over 1,500 people were killed in the maritime tragedy, while 705 people survived.The 12 men of distinction were among the 1500 passengers and crew aboard the ship.
Did anyone survive the Lusitania?
The last known survivor from the Lusitania ocean liner that was sunk by a German U-boat in 1915 has died. Audrey Lawson-Johnston from Melchbourne in Bedfordshire died in the early hours of Tuesday aged 95. She was three months old when the liner bound for Liverpool from New York sank off the Irish coast on 7 May.
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What famous person died on the Lusitania?
Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, once one of the richest men in the US, who died on board the Lusitania.
How many survivors survived the Lusitania?
761 people survived out of the 1,266 passengers and 696 crew aboard, and 123 of the casualties were American citizens.
Why did Lusitania sink so fast?
The ship sank within 20 minutes of being hit by a German torpedo. There has been much speculation about its quick demise, many pointing to the second explosion that occurred after the initial torpedo strike. Some believe damage to the steam room and pipes caused the latter blast, hastening the Lusitania's sinking.
How many babies died on Lusitania?
124 children on board, 94 perished, including 31 of 35 infants. Worth noting is that the often quoted number of 1,195 lost is the “official” number (this site numbers 1,193 lost), and 1,198 (1,197 on this site) includes the stowaways.
Was Lusitania bigger than Titanic?
Both British ocean liners had been the largest ships in the world when first launched (the Lusitania at 787 feet in 1906, and the Titanic at 883 feet in 1911). And both were ostentatiously luxurious, designed to ferry the world's wealthiest passengers between Europe and the United States in comfort and elegance.
What was hidden on the Lusitania?
The ship's manifest made no secret that it carried weapons in its hold, including 4,200 cases of Remington rifle cartridges and 1,250 cases of shrapnel shells and fuses.
Who was blamed for Lusitania?
A German U-boat torpedoed the British-owned steamship Lusitania, killing 1,195 people including 128 Americans, on May 7, 1915. The disaster set off a chain of events that led to the U.S. entering World War I.
Was the Lusitania ever found?
The ship was hit by German torpedoes, but there were reports that after the initial hit, a second explosion occurred, causing the massive liner to sink in just 18 minutes. Since the shipwreck's discovery in 1935, researchers have been eager to find clues to the mystery.
Are there any Lusitania survivors still alive?
The last known survivor from the Lusitania ocean liner that was sunk by a German U-boat in 1915 has died. Audrey Lawson-Johnston from Melchbourne in Bedfordshire died in the early hours of Tuesday aged 95.
Did the captain of the Lusitania survive?
Turner resumed command of Lusitania in April 1915. Turner stayed at his post throughout the sinking and stayed with the ship until she sank from under him. Captain Turner was rescued from the water by Bluebell.
How deep is the Lusitania wreck?
about 300 feetAs 128 Americans were killed in the disaster, the event helped push the United States into World War I. The 787-foot-long (240 meters) shipwreck now lies on its starboard side, at a depth of about 300 feet (91 m) off the coast of County Cork.
What is Lusitania called today?
Lusitania (/ˌluːsɪˈteɪniə/; Classical Latin: [luːsiːˈtaːnia]) was an ancient Iberian Roman province located where modern Portugal (south of the Douro river) and a portion of western Spain (the present Extremadura and the province of Salamanca) lie....Lusitania.Provincia LusitanaToday part ofPortugal Spain14 more rows
Are there any Lusitania survivors still alive?
The last known survivor from the Lusitania ocean liner that was sunk by a German U-boat in 1915 has died. Audrey Lawson-Johnston from Melchbourne in Bedfordshire died in the early hours of Tuesday aged 95.
Was there any survivors of the Lusitania?
Of the 1,960 verified people on board Lusitania, 767 survived. Four survivors (marked with “*”) died of trauma related to the sinking shortly afterwards, reducing the number saved to 763. The complete passenger and crew manifest is available in the downloads section.
Did the captain of the Lusitania survive?
Turner resumed command of Lusitania in April 1915. Turner stayed at his post throughout the sinking and stayed with the ship until she sank from under him. Captain Turner was rescued from the water by Bluebell.
Who was the richest person on the Lusitania?
Mr. Alfred Gwynne VanderbiltAlfred Vanderbilt Saloon Passenger LostAlfred Vanderbilt aboard Olympic. New York Times, 8 May 1915.Cabin numberB 65, B 67, and bath (Parlour Suite)Traveling with– Ronald Denyer (valet) – Thomas Slidell (friend)OccupationBusinessman7 more rows
How many people died in the Lusitania?
OVER one thousand people died when the RMS Lusitania was torpedoed off the Old Head of Kinsale in Co. Cork on May 7, 1915.
Where is the wreck of the Lusitania?
The wreck lies on its starboard side 11 miles south of the lighthouse at Kinsale, 91 metres beneath the waves.
What was the largest passenger ship in the world?
Picture: Wikipedia Commons. At the time of its completion in 1906, the Lusitania was the largest passenger ship on Earth at 240 metres long. It held that record until the arrival of its running mate RMS Mauretania in November that year – which was just one metre longer.
Why was the sinking of the Lusitania justified in a war zone?
The Germans claimed that sinking the Lusitania was justified in a war zone because its cargo included ammunition and shell casings to be used by the British in the Great War.
Why was the Lusitania painted grey?
At the outbreak of war in 1914, the Lusitania was repainted with a grey colour scheme in attempt to make her more difficult to detect by German U-boats. Despite the threat from submarines, the ship continued to carry thousands of passengers back and forth across the Atlantic while demand remained high.
How deep is the Titanic?
The Lusitania wreck sits at a depth of just 93 metres, compared to the Titanic’s resting depth of over 3,700 metres out in the mid-Atlantic. 7.
Which ship carried passengers across the Atlantic Ocean?
The Lusitania mostly carried passengers across the Atlantic Ocean between Britain and the United States – but when World War I began in 1914, it fatefully began to carry ammunition as well.
How many Americans died in the Lusitania?
…sank the unarmed British liner Lusitania without warning on May 7, 1915, killing, among others, 128 Americans. Wilson at first appealed to the Germans on broad grounds of humanity to abandon submarine warfare, but in the subsequent negotiations he narrowed the issue to one of safety for unarmed passenger liners…
What happened to the Lusitania?
Following reports of German U-boat activity along the Irish coast, the Lusitania was warned to avoid the area and to adopt the evasive tactic of zigzagging. The captain ignored these recommendations, and the ship was sunk by a torpedo on May 7. Nearly 1,200 people were killed.
How long did it take for the Lusitania to sink?
The ship sank within 20 minutes of being hit by a German torpedo. There has been much speculation about its quick demise, many pointing to the second explosion that occurred after the initial torpedo strike. Some believe damage to the steam room and pipes caused the latter blast, hastening the Lusitania ’s sinking.
Which ocean liner was sunk by a German U-boat?
The Mauretania would later claim the Blue Riband, and the two ships regularly vied for the honour. Lusitania. The British ocean liner Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915.
How big was the Lusitania?
The liner was completed the following year, at which time it was the largest ship in the world, measuring some 787 feet (240 metres) in length and weighing approximately 31,550 tons; it was surpassed the following year by its sister ship, the Mauretania. Although luxurious, the Lusitania was noted more for its speed.
How many passengers were on the Lusitania?
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc./Kenny Chmielewski and Christine McCabe. In May 1915 the Lusitania was returning from New York to Liverpool with 1,959 passengers and crew on board.
What was the impact of the sinking of the Lusitania?
Lusitania, British ocean liner, the sinking of which by a German U-boat on May 7, 1915, contributed indirectly to the entry of the United States into World War I.
How many people died in the Lusitania?
Of the more than 1,900 passengers and crew members on board, more than 1,100 perished, including more than 120 Americans. Nearly two years would pass before the United States formally entered World War I, but the sinking of the Lusitania played a significant role in turning public opinion against Germany, both in the United States and abroad.
How many tons of munitions did the Lusitania carry?
It was revealed that the Lusitania was carrying about 173 tons of war munitions for Britain, which the Germans cited as further justification for the attack. The United States eventually protested the action, and Germany apologized and pledged to end unrestricted submarine warfare. However, in November of that same year a U-boat sunk an Italian liner without warning, killing more than 270 people, including more than 25 Americans. Public opinion in the United States began to turn irrevocably against Germany.
What happened on January 31, 1917?
On January 31, 1917, Germany, determined to win its war of attrition against the Allies, announced it would resume unrestricted warfare in war-zone waters. Three days later, the United States broke diplomatic relations with Germany, and just hours after that the American ship Housatonic was sunk by a German U-boat.
Why did the British warn the Lusitania?
The sinkings of merchant ships off the south coast of Ireland prompted the British Admiralty to warn the Lusitania to avoid the area or take simple evasive action , such as zigzagging to confuse U-boats plotting the vessel’s course.
How long did it take for the Lusitania to sink?
The torpedo blast was followed by a larger explosion, probably of the ship’s boilers, and the ship sank off the south coast of Ireland in less than 20 minutes. It was revealed that the Lusitania was carrying about 173 tons of war munitions for Britain, which the Germans cited as further justification for the attack.
What was the prelude to Lusitania?
Prelude to Lusitania: Germany Announces Unrestricted Submarine Warfare. When World War I erupted in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924) pledged neutrality for the United States, a position that the vast majority of Americans favored. Britain, however, was one of America’s closest trading partners, and tension soon arose between ...
What happened on May 7, 1915?
Contents. On May 7, 1915, less than a year after World War I (1914-18) erupted across Europe, a German U-boat torpedoed and sank the RMS Lusitania, a British ocean liner en route from New York to Liverpool, England. Of the more than 1,900 passengers and crew members on board, more than 1,100 perished, including more than 120 Americans.
How many cabins were there on the Lusitania?
What greatly appealed to immigrants and lower class travelers was that instead of being confined to open berth dormitories, aboard Lusitania was a honeycomb of two, four, six and eight berth cabins allotted to third-class passengers on the main and lower decks.
Who owns the Lusitania wreck?
In 1967, the wreck of Lusitania was sold by the Liverpool & London War Risks Insurance Association to former US Navy diver John Light for £1,000. Gregg Bemis (1928–2020) became a co-owner of the wreck in 1968, and by 1982 had bought out his partners to become sole owner. He subsequently went to court in Britain in 1986, the US in 1995 and Ireland in 1996 to ensure that his ownership was legally in force.
Why were the Lusitania and Mauretania commissioned by Cunard?
Lusitania and Mauretania were commissioned by Cunard, responding to increasing competition from rival transatlantic passenger companies, particularly the German Norddeutscher Lloyd (NDL) and Hamburg America Line (HAPAG). They had larger, faster, more modern and more luxurious ships than Cunard, and were better placed, starting from German ports, to capture the lucrative trade in emigrants leaving Europe for North America. The NDL liner Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse captured the Blue Riband from Cunard's Campania in 1897, before the prize was taken in 1900 by the HAPAG ship Deutschland. NDL soon wrested the prize back in 1903 with the new Kaiser Wilhelm II and Kronprinz Wilhelm. Cunard saw its passenger numbers affected as a result of the so-called " Kaiser-class ocean liners ".
What amenities did the Titanic and the Olympic offer?
Both Olympic and Titanic offered swimming pools, Turkish baths, a gymnasium, a squash court, large reception rooms, À la Carte restaurants separate from the dining saloons, and many more staterooms with private bathroom facilities than their two Cunard rivals.
What was the name of the ship that was sunk by a German U-boat?
Notes. First ship of Cunard's four-funnelled grand trio, along with RMS Mauretania and RMS Aquitania. RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner that was sunk on 7 May 1915 by a German U-boat 11 miles (18 km) off the southern coast of Ireland, killing 1,198 passengers and crew. The sinking occurred about two years before the United States declaration ...
Why was the Lusitania painted grey?
During the ship's first east-bound crossing after the war started, she was painted in a grey colour scheme in an attempt to mask her identity and make her more difficult to detect visually.
How big was the White Star?
This made the White Star vessels about 15,000 tons larger than the Cunard vessels. Both Lusitania and Mauretania were launched and had been in service for several years before Olympic, Titanic and Britannic were ready for the North Atlantic run. Although significantly faster than the Olympic class would be, the speed of Cunard's vessels was not sufficient to allow the line to run a weekly two-ship transatlantic service from each side of the Atlantic. A third ship was needed for a weekly service, and in response to White Star's announced plan to build the three Olympic -class ships, Cunard ordered a third ship: Aquitania. Like Olympic, Cunard's Aquitania had a lower service speed, but was a larger and more luxurious vessel.
Overview
Final voyage
While many British passenger ships had been called into duty for the war effort, Lusitania remained on her regular route between Liverpool and New York City. She departed Pier 54 in New York on 1 May 1915 on her return trip to Liverpool with 1,959 people aboard. In addition to her crew of 694, she carried 1,265 passengers, mostly British nationals as well as a large number of Canadians, …
Background
When Lusitania was built, her construction and operating expenses were subsidized by the British government, with the provision that she could be converted to an Armed Merchant Cruiser if need be. At the outbreak of the First World War, the British Admiralty considered her for requisition as an armed merchant cruiser, and she was put on the official list of AMCs.
Official inquiries
On 8 May, the local county coroner John Hogan opened an inquest in Kinsale into the deaths of two males and three females whose bodies had been brought ashore by a local boat, Heron. Most of the survivors (and dead) had been taken to Queenstown instead of Kinsale, which was closer. On 10 May Captain Turner gave evidence as to the events of the sinking where he described that the shi…
International reaction
On 8 May Dr. Bernhard Dernburg, the former German Colonial Secretary, made a statement in Cleveland, Ohio, in which he attempted to justify the sinking of Lusitania. At the time Dernburg was recognised as the official spokesman of the Imperial German government in the United States. Dernburg said that because Lusitania "carried contraband of war" and also because she "was classed as a…
Last survivors
The last survivor was Audrey Warren Lawson-Johnston (née Pearl), who was born in New York City on 15 February 1915. She was the fourth of six children (the youngest two born after the disaster) born to Major Frederic "Frank" Warren Pearl (1869–1952) and Amy Lea (née Duncan; 1880–1964). She was only three months old when she boarded Lusitania in New York with her parents, three si…
Cultural legacy
There is no footage of the sinking.
• Animation pioneer Winsor McCay spent nearly two years animating the disaster for his film The Sinking of the Lusitania (1918). At 12 minutes, it was the longest animated film on record at the time. It was also the earliest-known dramatic animation.
Controversies
• See also RMS Lusitania#Conspiracy theories
The "Prize rules" or "Cruiser rules", laid down by the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907, governed the seizure of vessels at sea during wartime, although changes in technology such as radio and the submarine eventually made parts of them irrelevant. Merchant ships were to be warned by warships, and their p…