The iconic movie “Titanic” introduced us to the bittersweet love story of Jack and Rose, but did you know that Jack’s character was inspired by a real person who survived the tragic sinking of the Titanic in 1912? The character of Jack Dawson was inspired by Jack Thayer, a real passenger on the Titanic.
Unlike Jack Dawson’s character in the film, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Jack Thayer actually managed to survive the Titanic disaster. Thayer’s experiences on the ship inspired the popular character of Jack who has now turned into a cult figure.
Let’s delve into Jack Thayer’s background, his actions on the night of the Titanic tragedy, and his remarkable survival, uncovering the real-life story that inspired one of the most beloved films in cinematic history.
Jack’s Background
Jack Thayer was born into Boston’s affluent Thayer family. He was the son of John Borland Thayer II, a high-ranking executive at the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, and his mother, Marian Thayer.
At the age of 17, Jack, along with his parents and their maid Margaret Fleming, embarked on a journey across Europe. Their return to New York led them to board the RMS Titanic at Cherbourg on April 10, 1912, setting the stage for the young Thayer’s remarkable and tragic experience aboard the ill-fated ship.
Night of the Titanic Disaster: Jack’s Experience
On the fateful night of the Titanic disaster, Jack Thayer’s bravery and survival instincts came to the forefront. After the collision with the iceberg around 11:40 p.m., Thayer, then 17, ventured to the ship’s deck to assess the situation. Unable to find any significant damage, he proceeded to the bow, where he noticed ice on the forward well deck.
Alarmed, Thayer woke his parents, and together they returned to the port side. As the ship began listing, they went back to their rooms to don warmer clothes and life vests. While returning to the deck, Thayer lost sight of his parents and presumed they had joined a lifeboat.
Thayer encountered fellow passenger Milton Long, suggesting they jump off the ship and swim to safety. Long, initially hesitant due to his swimming abilities, eventually jumped, never to be seen again. Thayer followed suit, leaping from the rail with his back facing the ship.
In the frigid waters, Thayer reached Collapsible B, an overturned lifeboat. Alongside other survivors, including Junior Wireless Officer Harold Bride and Second Officer Charles Lightoller, they kept the overturned boat stable for hours, surrounded by the cries of those in the water.
After a harrowing night, Thayer was eventually pulled to safety into Lifeboat 12, not realizing that his mother was nearby in Lifeboat 4. Lifeboat 12 was the last to reach the rescue ship RMS Carpathia at 8:30 a.m. Sadly, Thayer’s father did not survive the sinking. Jack Thayer was among the approximately 40 individuals who jumped into the water and lived to tell the tale of the tragic night on which Titanic hit an iceberg and sunk.
Life after Titanic
After surviving the Titanic tragedy, Jack Thayer continued his life with both achievements and profound tragedies. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, got married to Lois Buchanan Cassatt, and had two sons, Edward Cassatt and John Borland IV, along with three daughters. The couple faced immense grief when their third son, Alexander Johnston Cassatt Thayer, passed away shortly after birth in 1920.
World War I saw Thayer serving as an artillery officer in the U.S. Army. Tragedy struck again during World War II when Edward, one of Thayer’s sons and a bomber pilot, went missing and was presumed dead after his plane was shot down in 1943.
In 1939, Thayer took on the role of treasurer at the University of Pennsylvania, later becoming the financial vice president in 1944. However, the weight of loss continued to haunt him. His mother’s death on the 32nd anniversary of the Titanic disaster in 1944 and the subsequent loss of his son took a severe toll on Thayer’s mental well-being.
Jack even published a pamphlet about his experience with the name, “The Sinking of the S.S. Titanic.” His account also helped Robert Ballard to find the location of the shipwreck. Sadly, he succumbed to his inner struggles, ending his life on September 20, 1945. His body was found in a car in West Philadelphia. Jack Thayer rests at the Church of the Redeemer Cemetery in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
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