Unborn on the Titanic
The unborn on the Titanic included nine who later had healthy births, and an additional two were stillborn, two who died shortly after birth, and at least two more whose mothers did not survive the sinking.[1] Contrary to popular belief, these unborn children were the youngest on the Titanic rather than Millvina Dean, who the eventual last living Titanic survivor, is well known as being the youngest passenger (two months old) and also its longest survivor, passing away at age 96 in 2009.[2] Her mother was traveling in third class and made it onto a lifeboat with her two infants.
The most famous unborn child on the RMS Titanic was John Jacob Astor Jr., subsequently born on August 14, 1912, whose father was the wealthiest man in the world yet voluntarily perished in an act of chivalry in favor of women and children for the lifeboat seats. The father wanted his child to be born in the United States and that is why they were on the Titanic.
Only a few women traveling above third class (i.e., traveling in first or second class) were not rescued. Two of those women who perished were pregnant, one certainly so (Emma Corey) and one likely so (Claire Karnes). They were friends traveling without their husbands, who worked for an oil company in Burma.[1]
List of pregnant mothers
Researchers have identified 17 mothers who were pregnant on the Titanic, two of whom perished in the sinking while the other 15 survived.[3] These totals are two more than above because one mother subsequently had a miscarriage, and another is unconfirmed.
A total of 57 men became fathers posthumously after the men perished, while only two fathers-to-be survived.[3]
