Mr Gilbert Milligan Tucker Jr., 31, was born 3 November 1880 the son of author Gilbert Milligan Tucker (born 26 August 1847, died 13 January 1932) and his wife Sara Edwards Miller, they were married 7 June 1877. Gilbert Jr. had a sister Margaret Cleveland Tucker. The family lived in Albany, New York where the children were born. Mr Tucker, Sr. was the editor of The Country Gentleman and author of "Our Common Speech" written in 1895. Gilbert, Jr. a graduate of Cornell University was also an author.
Tucker had travelled with his parents and sister to Europe but during their travels he met Margaret Hays who was touring Europe, with Olive Earnshaw and Lily Potter.
Tucker, a bachelor, immediately fell for Margaret and when she prepared to return to America he left his family tour to spend more time with her. Appointing himself as their unofficial escort Tucker and the three ladies boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg, he occupied cabin C-53.
After the collision with the iceberg, Gilbert Tucker helped the three ladies into lifejackets at the landing on C deck; they then went to the boat deck where they were all permitted to board lifeboat 7.
Margaret Hays kept in regular contact with Gilbert Tucker after their rescue but chose to marry Dr Charles D. Easton, a Rhode Island physician in 1913. She passed away in 1956.
Gilbert Tucker married Mildred Penrose Stewart in 1922.1
Gilbert Tucker Jr. died 26 February 1968. He was cremated at the Little Chapel By The Sea Pacific Grove, California and his ashes were interred Albany Rural Cemetery, New York.
I know it's rather odd to find me haunting the passenger forum, but perhaps someone can help me with a query? Gilbert Tucker, according to the information on ET, left the Titanic in lifeboat #7 in the company of Margaret Hays, Olive Earnshaw and Lily Potter. However, I've found a 1912 source reporting remarks from Tucker himself that indicate he left in a portside boat, one of those that later tied up in Lowe's flotilla of boats: “After rowing a considerable difference from the Titanic, Lowe discovered that some of the boats could hold a lot more people than they had in...
Inger: You never cease to amaze me. Interesting find on Mr. Tucker. He's one of my California-related passengers and died in Carmel. You probably drove right by there earlier this year in the Sheilbus. Let me know what develops.
Hello Inger, I would be very curious to find out the source name for the Tucker quote. With all that newsprint running "yellow" in those days, I wonder if it might be a situation where, refused a story, the reporter made one up? So many persons claimed to have been near around, having seen, the Astor's. Lord knows how many men claimed that Mrs Astor intervened on their behalf when they were threatened from crewmen with bodily harm. I wonder if you could point out their source as I am as curious as Mike H to find out more. ...
Of course - one of your blokes, Mike, I should have thought of that There are at least two sources along the same lines of the passage I quoted above, but they might have a common source. If it turns out to be worth anything I'll send the account along to you.
I'll send it along to you as well, Brian - would be interested in any light you could shed on it. I think it was Mrs Potter who claimed they saw the Astors on deck - Tucker (as quoted) doesn't mention them.
Hi Inger, I hope I can be of some help here. Gilbert Tucker was in the company of Mrs. Potter, Mrs. Earnshaw and Miss Hays when they departed the Titanic's starboard side. The three ladies were specific in their accounts about having left the Titanic in the first lifeboat to be launched. They also added that since there were no more women who wanted to enter their boat, several men were allowed in. Tucker seized the opportunity and joined the ladies in the boat. I don't know of any incident on the port side where men were invited to enter any lifeboat. Also, Miss Hays saved her...
Cheers for the input, Mike! The fact that Tucker was male and the common elements of the accounts (particularly the unanimity on the timing in which they left - in the first boat) do indeed suggest #7. In one of the versions - the one I quoted in part above - Tucker even claims to have been in a boat with only 27 people which tallies very neatly with #7. "Lowe" in this account, however, does not appear to be a garbled version of Pitman - the information about his actions is fairly specific. It also predates the widespread media coverage of Lowe's testimony at the American Inquiry. So...
I thought I would post some pictures of stories from the April 19, 1912 "Times Union" news paper,(a Albany NY Paper where he lived and my home town) which documents Tuckers escape from the Titanic. You can find it on which is part of my proposed business web site. I'm getting a new camera next week, so may do this again if a higher resolution will make a better picture. If any one has thoughts on how to take better pictures or a picture editor that will help...
This is fascinating reading. Thanks Bob for sharing these stories. It's interesting to note that George Tucker helped Margaret Hayes carry the Navratil twins down the gangplank when Carpathia landed.