Mr John (or James) Montgomery Smart was a businessman involved in the refrigerated food trade as president of the American Cold Storage & Shipping Co. He was travelling home to the United States where he had previously resided at the Victoria Hotel in New York.
Very little is known about Smart's background, he led business acquaintences to understand he came from Massachusetts, but he possibly originated in the north of England, and then lived for some years in Melbourne, Australia.
In 1897 he registered patents in Australia related to the preservation of perishable goods, he also seems to have been involved in gold mining as a founder of the short-lived Mighty Dollar Gold Mining Company, he also latterly submitted patents relating to lubrication of railway cariage axles for the Axle Lubricating Company, Bending, New York.
It was speculated that he was widowed with two children (Annie and George) being educated in France or Belgium and this was the basis of an intense search after his death, but there seems to be no evidence of their existence. One French newspaper referred to them as. a nephew and niece.
When he bought his ticket (first-class ticket No. 113792 for £26 11s) he gave his last address as 3 Woodend Cottages (now New Row), Kildale, Grosmont, Yorkshire. In the 1911 census, this was the home of retired clerk William Smart (68) and his wife Sarah (née Calvert, 72). If they were relatives of the Titanic passenger is currently unproven.
The Titanic's outward passenger list gives his name as John M. Smart; according to contemporary newspapers he more frequently used the name J. Montgomery Smart, but was apparently known to close associates as Jim. Numerous articles and at least one city directory give his first name as James.
Smart boarded the Titanic at Southampton accompanied by his lawyer Frederick K. Seward of the law firm of Curtis, Mallet-Provost & Colt. He was listed as a citizen of the United States and intended the USA to be his future place of permanent residence.
J. Montgomery Smart died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified. His will, proved in 1916 but seemingly drawn up in 1897, made no mention of a wife or children, and instead left his entire estate to two friends he had met when in Australia in the 1880s. The estate in England was only valued at just £134.17.9d, but it was reported that his beneficiaries received over $16,000.
See the links to newspaper accounts and research articles below to learn more about this elusive and secretive Titanic passenger.
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