Archibald gracie biography

He later attended the United States Military Academy though he did not graduate and eventually became a colonel of the 7th New York Militia. Gracie was an amateur historian and had a particular interest in the Battle of Chickamauga, in which his father had served. He spent a number of years researching the battle and eventually wrote a book titled The Truth about Chickamaugawhich was published in Gracie boarded the Titanic at Southampton on April 10,and was assigned first-class cabin C Gracie socialized with a group he called "our coterie", joined by Candee, his friend J.

Clinch Smith, and several others. Gracie was known among the other first-class passengers as a tireless raconteur who had an inexhaustible supply of stories about Chickamauga and the Civil War in general.

Archibald gracie biography: Archibald Gracie () was

On April 14, Gracie decided that he had neglected his health and spent some time in physical exercise on the squash courts and in the ship's swimming pool. He then attended church services, had an early lunch, and spent the rest of the day reading and socializing. He went to bed early, intending on an early start the next morning on the ship's squash courts.

At about pm ship's time Gracie was jarred awake by a jolt. He sat up, realized the ship's engines were no longer moving, and partially dressed, putting on a Norfolk jacket over his regular clothes. Smith showed Gracie a piece of ice that had fallen off the berg. Reaching the Boat Deck, Gracie realized the ship was listing slightly.

He returned to his cabin to put on his life jacket and on the way back found the women he had been chaperoning. He escorted them up to the Boat Deck and made sure they entered lifeboats. He then retrieved blankets for the women in the boats, and along with his friend Smith assisted Second Officer Charles Lightoller in filling the remaining archibalds gracie biography with women and children.

Once the last regular lifeboat had been launched at am on the 15th, Gracie and Smith assisted Lightoller and others in freeing the four Engelhardt collapsible boats that were stored atop the crew quarters and attached to the roof by heavy cords and canvas lashings. Gracie had to lend Lightoller his penknife so the boats could be freed.

The men were able to launch Collapsibles "C" and "D" and free Collapsible "A" from its lashings, but while they were freeing Collapsible "B" from its place the bridge was suddenly awash. Gracie later wrote about the moment:. My friend Clinch Smith made the proposition that we should leave and go toward the stern. But there arose before us from the decks below a mass of humanity several lines deep converging on the Boat Deck facing us and completely blocking our passage to the stern.

There were women in the crowd as well as men and these seemed to be steerage passengers who had just come up from the decks below. Even among these people there was no hysterical cry, no evidence of panic. Oh the agony of it. As the fore part of the ship dipped below the surface and the water rushed towards them, Gracie jumped with the wave, caught a handhold, and pulled himself up to the roof of the bridge.

The undertow caused by the ship's sinking pulled Gracie down; he freed himself from the ship and rose to the surface near the overturned Collapsible "B". Gracie scrambled onto the overturned lifeboat along with a few dozen other men in the water. His friend Clinch Smith perished; his body never recovered. Gracie was saved during the sinking of the Titanic when he got onto a lifeboat.

Then as the ship started to sink, his life boat was sucked underwater. Gracie and his friend Clinch Smith were under the ship when Gracie was freed from the ship's current and began to swin towards a collapsed lifeboat. His friend Clinch never reached the surface and his remains were never found. He died just 8 months after the sinking, making him the first upper-class Titanic survivor to die.

Gracie's last words were "We must get them into the boats. We must get them all into the boats. Contents move to sidebar hide.

Archibald gracie biography: Archibald Gracie IV (January

In Aprilhe sailed to America with a cargo of goods that were his own profit stock. He used the proceeds to invest in a mercantile company in New York City. He later moved to Petersburg, Virginiaand engaged in the export of tobacco to Great Britain. Gracie was a business partner of Alexander Hamilton and a friend of John Jay. Gracie was a member of the Tontine Associationwhich supervised the trading of stocks.

Gracie expanded his interests and became active in the banking and insurance industries. Andrew's Society of New Yorkserving from to InGracie purchased a large tract of land on Horn's Hook near the East Riverwhere the following year he constructed a large two-story wooden mansion on the crest of a hill. Used primarily as his country home, the mansion quickly became a hub of the New York city social scene.

InGracie sold the estate to pay off debts. It was acquired by New York City in and now serves as the residence of the Mayor of the city.

Archibald gracie biography: Archibald Gracie (June 25, – April

Rogers was the granddaughter of Samuel Fitch —a member of the House of Representatives of the Colony of Connecticut who was the brother of Thomas Fitch —former governor of the Connecticut Colony. After the death of his wife, Gracie married Elizabeth Fitch. His marriage yielded ten children. Contents move to sidebar hide. Days later, Green went into Lee's office to admit his role and demand an equal punishment.

Lee decided to punish neither of them, and Gracie and Green became fast friends. After graduating inhe was appointed a second lieutenant and set off as an escort to Governor Isaac Stevenswho was on the way to the Walla Walla Council of InGracie resigned his post to join his father's firm, established during the s in Mobile, Alabamaas agents of the London banking firm of Baring brothers.

By the orders of Governor Andrew B. In Junehe was created a major of the 11th Alabama Regiment. From March to Aprilhe commanded a small company of sharpshooters, who were some of the first to reinforce General Magruder during the Battle of Yorktown. General Gracie's command took an active role during the Battle of Chickamaugawhere he lost over men.

During this battle, Gracie was shot in the arm, causing temporary paralysis of his little and ring fingers. Lee was at "Gracie's Mortar Hell" inspecting Gracie's defenses. When Lee raised his head over the wall to glance at the Union position, Gracie climbed the wall in front of him. Lee then stated, "Why, Gracie, you will certainly be killed.