Mr Frank John Goldsmith was born in Hadlow, Kent, England on 27 January 1879.

He was the son of James George Goldsmith (b. 1854), an agricultural labourer, and Maria Barton (b. 1849), natives of Peckham and Hadlow respectively who were married in 1874.

He was one of nine children, six surviving, and his surviving siblings were: William James (1877-1929), Richard (1880-1940), Laura Louisa (1884-1968, later Mrs Joseph Tweed), Annie Maria (b. 1887) and Albert (b. 1890) and also had a half sibling, Stephen William Barton (b. 1869) from a previous relationship of his mother's.  

He first appears on the 1881 census living with his family at 15 Carpenter's Lane, Hadlow but the family uprooted and relocated to Strood, Kent around 1889, appearing on the 1891 census living at 7 Horne (?) Road in that town; Frank was described as a scholar and his father a general labourer. By the time of the 1901 census Frank was still at home with his parents, then 5 Brompton Lane, Strood and he was by now described as an engineer's labourer.

Frank was married in late 1901 to Emily Alice Brown (b. 1880), a native of Milton Regis, Kent and they had two sons, Frank John William (b. 1902) and Albert John (b. 1905). The family appeared on the 1911 census living at 22 Hone Street in Strood and Frank was described as an engineers' turner. Before the close of the year the family lost their youngest son Albert to diphtheria aged just 6.

In 1910 his wife's parents and several of her siblings had emigrated and settled in Detroit, Michigan; it was decided that Frank, his wife and son would follow. The family boarded the Titanic at Southampton on 10 April 1912 as third class passengers (ticket number 363291 which cost £20, 10s, 6d). Also travelling with them from Strood was an acquaintance, Thomas Theobald and another from Surrey, Alfred Rush.

The Goldsmiths seemingly became acquainted with many other British passengers aboard, including: May Howard, Emily Badman, Rhoda Abbott, Edward Lockyer and Edward Dorking.

On the night of the sinking the family were in their cabin; Frank felt the impact of the iceberg and alerted his sleeping wife and son. They then made for the upper decks with Thomas Theobald and Alfred Rush and managed, along  with several of their other shipboard acquaintances to find their way to the forward end of the starboard boat deck where four collapsible boats were being prepared for launch. Frank bade farewell to his wife and son and saw them off in collapsible C.

Frank Goldsmith died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

There is a memorial marker to him in Ashland Cemetery, Ashland, Ohio.