How was EJ Smith chosen as Captain ?

[Steven Christian]

According to the talented historian Dan Parkes his articles on captain Smith:
"On 14 February 1888 Smith decided to apply for his Extra Master’s certification, a voluntary certification but the highest the Board of Trade offered and hence the most difficult. It is perhaps not surprising that Smith failed the navigation section, the first time he had had ever failed an exam. The fee was 2 pounds, half of which was returned upon failure to pass, so Smith applied again three days later and on the 20th of February 1888 finally passed the test."
While he failed on his first attempt, he did passed the test on his second attempt.

Ok thanks for the replies Thomas, Seumas, Cam. Would have been nice if they showed the records they are basing the article on. There nothing wrong with failing a test the first time around with a few exceptions (like parachuting...). I have had to take tests over. I wasn't pinging on Smith, more the claim. I haven't seen the article from Dan Parkes. I always like the story of the young lad who on his first flight lesson they told him to go home and find something else. He would never be a pilot. That was Alan Shepard...first american in space and 5th to walk on the moon.

 

[Seumas]

Ok thanks for the replies Thomas, Seumas, Cam. Would have been nice if they showed the records they are basing the article on. There nothing wrong with failing a test the first time around with a few exceptions (like parachuting...). I have had to take tests over. I wasn't pinging on Smith, more the claim. I haven't seen the article from Dan Parkes. I always like the story of the young lad who on his first flight lesson they told him to go home and find something else. He would never be a pilot. That was Alan Shepard...first american in space and 5th to walk on the moon.

Here it is Steven

Scroll right down to the bottom of the page and you'll find a table detailing all the Titanic's officers exam histories.

Titanic's Officers - Articles - What Did the Titanic Officers Look Like?

A website devoted to collating information on Titanic's officers, as well as the officers involved in the disaster such as the Carpathia and Californian.

titanicofficers.com

 

[Steven Christian]

Here it is Steven

Scroll right down to the bottom of the page and you'll find a table detailing all the Titanic's officers exam histories.

Titanic's Officers - Articles - What Did the Titanic Officers Look Like?

A website devoted to collating information on Titanic's officers, as well as the officers involved in the disaster such as the Carpathia and Californian.

titanicofficers.com

Good article thanks. In his own handwriting too. So reading that chart there were 5 officers on the bridge that were qualified to be captain. Interesting.

 

[Seumas]

Good article thanks. In his own handwriting too. So reading that chart there were 5 officers on the bridge that were qualified to be captain. Interesting.

Aye, really good research by Dan Parkes.

It was cool reading in that same article the wee details such as Lightoller and Lowe both had tattoos and that Pitman had a deformed finger.