Benjamin Guggenheim

Mr Benjamin Guggenheim, 46, was born on 26 October 1865 in New York, the son of Meyer Guggenheim and his wife Barbara (née Myers).

He married Florette J. Seligman on 24 October 1894 and they had three daughters, Benita Rosalind (1895-1927), Marguerite "Peggy" (1898-1979) and Barbara Hazel (1903-1995).

Guggenheim boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg with his valet Victor Giglio and his "mistress" Mrs Aubart. Guggenheim and Giglio's ticket was 17593 and cost £79 4s¹. Mr Guggenheim's chauffeur René Pernot travelled in second class.

After the collision Bedroom Steward Henry Samuel Etches helped Mr Guggenheim to fit his lifebelt. Ignoring his protestations; "This will hurt", Etches finally managed to get the mining and smelting tycoon into the lifebelt, he then made him put on a thick sweater and sent him up to the Boat Deck. Despite Etches best efforts Guggenheim soon returned to his room (B-82) and changed into his finest evening wear, his valet, Mr Giglio did likewise. He was later heard to remark 'We've dressed up in our best and are prepared to go down like gentlemen.'

Photo: Daily Mirror, April 16, 1912, p.9

Guggenheim said to Etches: 'If anything should happen to me, tell my wife in New York that I’ve done my best in doing my duty.'

Mr Guggenheim, Mr Giglio and Mr Pernot were all lost in the sinking. His mistress Mme Aubart and her maid survived.

In later life Guggenheim's widow became increasingly eccentric, she died in 1937.  Guggenheim's middle daughter Peggy became a noted art collector founding a world-famous art gallery in Venice.