Mr George Quincy Clifford

Boston Globe, 16 April 1912

George Quincy Clifford was born on 20 November 1871. In 1912, he was a resident of Stoughton, Massachusetts, and president of the George E. Belcher Last Company of the same town. (A shoe last is the 'mold' to which every individually designed shoe is built around. Commonly in 1912, they were made of iron or wood.)

In the winter of 1912, and before his planned combined business and pleasure trip to Europe, Mr. Clifford took out $50,000.00 worth of extra life insurance on his person. As it was, prior to his departure overseas, his brother had passed away and his own wife was very ill as well.

On February 20, 1912, George Q. Clifford sailed from Boston, Mass, aboard the Megantic, another White Star liner, accompanied by his two traveling companions: Walter Chamberlain Porter, President of the Samuel Porter Last Manufacturing Co, Worcester, Mass and John Edward Maguire of the Dunbar Pattern Co., Brockton, Mass. While they were abroad, the three businessmen visited the flourishing trade centres of England, Germany, France, Austria and other European countries, mixing business with short pleasure excursions.

Unfortunately, Mr. Clifford learned from a telegram upon his immediate arrival in Europe, that his mother had also passed away while he was crossing the Atlantic Ocean. He was informed that her estate was being held in probate awaiting his return as a beneficiary. In one of Walter Porter’s last letters to his family and business partner in Worcester, he wrote that himself and John Maguire had been in fine health throughout the trip and that it had been a very successful one overall. However, he mentioned, George Clifford had been in very poor health for the three weeks prior. Mr. Porter wrote that he was happy they had been assured by the White Star people that the Titanic would sail on schedule from Southampton on April 10th (amid concerns arising from the coal strike). He also said that he wished it were an immediate departure instead of ten days from then (Porter’s last letter was dated 31 March 1912).

The three men boarded the Titanic in Southampton as first class passengers. Mr. Clifford shared ticket no. 110465 (£52) with Mr. Porter and occupied cabin A-14. Mr. Porter occupied cabin C-110. Mr. Maguire occupied the cabin next to Mr. Porter’s, C-108. All three men perished in the tragedy. Mr.Porter's body was discovered after the sinking by the MacKay Bennett (#207) in a remarkably good condition. Neither Mr. Maguire's nor Mr. Clifford’s bodies were ever found.

After Mr. Clifford’s tragic death and due to his prior purchase of extra insurance, the total amount of his insurance policies reached $110,000.00. In addition, his estate was valued at $150,000.00. During his lifetime, Mr. Clifford had been a member of several Boston and Brockton area clubs.

Travelling Companions (on same ticket)
Mr Walter Chamberlain Porter

Travelling Companions
Mr John Edward Maguire Friend