Lifeboat No. 6 of the RMS Titanic contained a single male passenger, Arthur Godfrey Peuchen, who secured his passage by descending a rope under the instruction of Second Officer Charles Lightoller. His survival during the 1912 disaster remains the most noted event in a career defined by extensive transatlantic business travel and military service.
Chemical Industry Entrepreneurship
Born in Montreal in 1859 to Godfrey E. Peuchen and Eliza E. Clarke, Peuchen built a career centered on chemical extraction. In 1897, he developed methods for processing hardwoods into acetic acid, acetone, methanol, formaldehyde, and acetate of lime. These materials served diverse industries, providing formaldehyde for wheat preservation and acetone for the manufacture of cordite, a high explosive. As president of the Standard Chemical, Iron & Lumber Company of Canada, Ltd., he managed a network of refineries and plants located across Canada and Germany, as well as facilities in France and another location in Europe.
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Peuchen maintained a dual identity as an entrepreneur and an officer in the Canadian militia. He joined The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada at seventeen, advancing through the ranks to captain and sergeant before receiving his promotion to lieutenant-colonel on May 21, 1912. His status as an experienced yachtsman—having once sailed his own boat, Vreda, across the Atlantic—informed his activities within the Royal Canadian Yacht Club, where he served as Vice-Commodore and Rear-Commodore. During the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911, he performed duties as a marshalling officer.
The Titanic Incident
On April 10, 1912, Peuchen boarded the Titanic at Southampton for his 40th transatlantic voyage. When the vessel began to sink, he encountered Second Officer Charles Lightoller, who required assistance rowing the lifeboats. Despite the presence of Quartermaster Robert Hichens, Peuchen volunteered and climbed down a rope to enter Lifeboat No. 6. Following his rescue, Peuchen publicly criticized the crew and Captain Edward Smith for substandard seamanship and inadequate preparation. However, his formal testimony at the United States Senate inquiry proved more measured, acknowledging the efforts of the sailors while maintaining that company policies and staffing levels were deficient.
Later Years and Legacy
Upon returning to Toronto, Peuchen faced social scrutiny regarding his survival, though he later received the Volunteer Officers' Decoration. He retired from his executive position at Standard Chemical at the onset of World War I to command the Home Battalion of the Queen's Own Rifles. He resided at a mansion called Woodlands, located on Kempenfelt Bay near Barrie, Ontario. Peuchen died in Toronto on December 7, 1929, and was interred at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. In 1987, his wallet—lost during his descent into the lifeboat—was recovered from the sea floor near the ship remains.
Fast facts
- Born: 1859, Montreal
- Died: 1929, Toronto
- Occupation: Entrepreneur
- Military Rank: Lieutenant-colonel
- Primary Business: Standard Chemical, Iron & Lumber Company of Canada, Ltd.
- Titanic Boarding Date: April 10, 1912
- Burial Site: Mount Pleasant Cemetery
- Notable Yacht: Vreda
Questions readers ask
Why was Peuchen allowed on a lifeboat?
He was the only male passenger permitted to board a lifeboat because Second Officer Charles Lightoller required a volunteer to row, and Peuchen was a trained yachtsman.
Did Peuchen criticize the Titanic crew?
Yes. Immediately following the rescue, he publicly blamed the crew and Captain Smith for poor seamanship, though his subsequent testimony at the United States Senate inquiry was more moderate.