Encyclopedia Titanica

William Campbell

Member of Titanic's Guarantee Group

William Campbell
William Campbell

Mr William Campbell was born in Belfast, Ireland (modern-day Northern Ireland) on 22 September 1891.

Coming from a Presbyterian family, William was the youngest child of William Campbell (b. 1845), a seaman, and his wife Sarah, née Hawthorne (b. 1847) who had married at Sinclair Seaman's Church near the Belfast docks on 25 February 1870. His father was from Belfast whilst his mother hailed from Islandmagee near the port of Larne in Co Antrim. 

His parents went on to have eight children, losing two in infancy, and William's known siblings were: Mary Hawthorne (4 November 1871-1877), Elizabeth Corry (b. 6 December 1873-1912), Sarah (b. 20 March 1876), Mary Hawthorne (b. 24 April 1878), Robert John (b. circa 1882) and Jane (b. 15 October 1884).

The 1901 census shows William and his family living at 47 Spamount Street in the New Lodge area of north Belfast. By the time of the 1911 census, the family had shifted to 45 Earl Street in Clifton, also in north Belfast and William was described as a joiner. The family later moved to 28 Earl Street.

William, described as a "bright lad," was one of the nine-strong "guarantee group" of Harland and Wolff employees chosen to oversee the smooth running of the Titanic's maiden voyage.

William Campbell died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.

Just one day after his death his elder sister Elizabeth Leathem died aged 38; she was buried in Belfast's City Cemetery on 18 April.

WILLIAM CAMPBELL
... an apprentice joiner, who was one of the special staff on the Titanic sent by the builders, and whose name, unfortunately, is not included in the list of survivors. As already recorded, a sister of his passed away in Belfast a few days ago, and in her last illness was touchingly anxious to see again her young brother, who all unknown to her had met a cruel fate.  - Larne Times, 27 April 1912

Campbell's estate, worth a meagre £10, was administered to his father William on 28 March 1913. On 15 April 1913 a memorial appeared in the Belfast Newsletter:

CAMPBELL--In fond and loving memory of my dear brother Willie, who lost his life in the R.M.S. Titanic on the 15th April, 1912; also my dear sister Lizzie (Mrs Leathem), who died the following day, and was interred in the City Cemetery.

William's mother later lived at 84 Corporation Street, Belfast and she died as a result of cancer on 20 June 1915.

Newspaper Articles

Larne Times (27 April 1912) Apprentice Joiner William Campbell Aged 11

Comment and discuss

  1. andrew shaun irons

    andrew shaun irons

    HI could anyone help, im after any info regarding William Campbell (apprentice joiner) names of his mother and father THX Andy
  2. Inger Sheil

    Inger Sheil

    Hallo Andy - Only info I could come across readily was his entry in Stephen Cameron's book 'Belfast's Own', which I suspect you might have already read? It mentions his sister, a Mrs Leathim, but not his parents. Perhaps if you contacted Cameron via his publishers he might have more information - I've corresponded with him in the past and found him to be exceptionally prompt and helpful. Hopefully someone else on the board can be of more assistance to you! Regards, Inger
  3. Phillip Gowan

    Phillip Gowan

    Andrew, According to his birth certificate, Mr. Campbell was the son of George Campbell and Emma Crowther. Hope that helps! Phillip Gowan
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Titanic Passenger Summary

Name: Mr William Campbell
Age: 20 years 6 months and 23 days (Male)
Nationality: Irish
Religion: Presbyterian
Marital Status: Single
Last Residence: in Belfast, Ireland
Occupation: Carpenter / Joiner
Embarked: Belfast
Ticket No. 239853
Died in the Titanic disaster (15th April 1912)
Body Not Identified

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