<Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Captain Edward John Smith R.D. R.N.R. </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Captain E.J. Smith </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> (1850 - 01 - 27) 27 January 1850 Hanley, Staffordshire, England </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> </Th> <Td> 15 April 1912 (1912 - 04 - 15) (aged 62) Atlantic Ocean </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Cause of death </Th> <Td> Drowned in the ship; body never recovered </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Resting place </Th> <Td> 41 ° 43 ′ 32" N 49 ° 56 ′ 49" W ﻿ / ﻿ 41.72556 ° N 49.94694 ° W ﻿ / 41.72556; - 49.94694 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Nationality </Th> <Td> British </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Occupation </Th> <Td> Ship captain </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Employer </Th> <Td> White Star Line </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Known for </Th> <Td> Captain of R.M.S. Titanic </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> Sarah Eleanor Pennington (1887--1912; his death) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Children </Th> <Td> Helen Melville Smith (1898--1973) (aged 75) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Parent (s) </Th> <Td> Edward Smith Catherine Hancock (nee Marsh) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Notes </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Ranks: Commander--RNR (Retired) Captain--White Star Line Honorific rank of commodore, as the White Star Line's most senior captain </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Captain Edward John Smith R.D. R.N.R. </Th> </Tr>

What really happened to the captain of the titanic