Louise Laroche
Encyclopedia
Louise Laroche was one of the last remaining survivors of the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. It is believed that she, her sister and her father, Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche
, were the only people of black descent aboard.
, France
to Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche and his wife, Juliette Lafargue. She was preceded in birth by a sister Simonne Marie Anne Andrée Laroche in 1909.http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/people/louise-laroche.asp
Although Louise's father had a degree in engineering and was nephew to the then President of Haiti (Cincinnatus Leconte
), his race prevented him from finding steady employment. Given this, he decided to move his family back to his native Haiti
. The family planned to leave in late 1912, but Juliette discovered she was pregnant for a third time, and Joseph decided to bump up their travel arrangements so the child could be born in Haiti
. The family originally had plans to travel on the France, but the ship's policy stipulated that children were required to remain in the nursery and were not permitted to eat with their parents, a policy that the Laroches did not like. They instead transferred their tickets to sail on the Titanic.http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/people/louise-laroche.asp
tenders had to transport passengers out to Titanic, and the Laroche's were transported aboard the SS Nomadic.http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/people/louise-laroche.asp
Shortly after the Titanic struck the iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on April 14, Joseph woke Juliette and told her that the ship had suffered an accident. He put all of their valuables in his pockets, and he and his wife carried each of their sleeping daughters to the ship's deck.
It is not known for sure which lifeboat Juliette and her daughters escaped in, although Juliette remembered a countess being in her lifeboat. There was a countess on board the ship, Noël Leslie, Countess of Rothes
, who escaped in lifeboat 8, so it is likely that Juliette, Simonne and Louise all escaped the ship on this lifeboat. Joseph died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/people/louise-laroche.asp
Later in the day on April 15, Juliette and her daughters were picked up by the rescue ship RMS Carpathia
. Louise and her sister were hauled up to the its deck in burlap bags. On board the Carpathia
, Juliette found it very hard to get linens which she could use as diapers for her children. Since there were none to spare, Juliette improvised and at the end of each meal she would sit on napkins and conceal them and once back in the cabin, make diapers out of them.http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/people/louise-laroche.asp The Carpathia
arrived in New York City, New York on 18th, but there was no one to meet Juliette and her daughters, so Juliette decided not to continue to Haiti, but instead return to her family in Villejuif
, France
. The family returned in May 1912, and it was there that Juliette gave birth to her son who she named Joseph, in honor of his father.http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/people/louise-laroche.asp
.http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/people/louise-laroche.asp That same year, Louise was present as the Titanic Historical Society
dedicated a stone marker in Cherbourg commemorating Titanic passengers who sailed from its port.
Louise Laroche died on 28 January 1998 at the age of 87. Her death left seven remaining survivors.
Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche
Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche was a Paris educated engineer and is best known as being one of the only passengers of Haitian and black ancestry on the final voyage of the RMS Titanic. He was the nephew of Cincinnatus Leconte, a President of Haiti....
, were the only people of black descent aboard.
Early life
Louise Laroche was born on July 2, 1910 in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche and his wife, Juliette Lafargue. She was preceded in birth by a sister Simonne Marie Anne Andrée Laroche in 1909.http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/people/louise-laroche.asp
Although Louise's father had a degree in engineering and was nephew to the then President of Haiti (Cincinnatus Leconte
Cincinnatus Leconte
Jean-Jacques Dessalines Michel Cincinnatus Leconte was President of Haiti from August 15, 1911 until his death on August 8, 1912. He was a great-grandson of Jean-Jacques Dessalines—a former African slave who briefly held power as Emperor of Haiti—and an uncle of Joseph Laroche, the only black...
), his race prevented him from finding steady employment. Given this, he decided to move his family back to his native Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. The family planned to leave in late 1912, but Juliette discovered she was pregnant for a third time, and Joseph decided to bump up their travel arrangements so the child could be born in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. The family originally had plans to travel on the France, but the ship's policy stipulated that children were required to remain in the nursery and were not permitted to eat with their parents, a policy that the Laroches did not like. They instead transferred their tickets to sail on the Titanic.http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/people/louise-laroche.asp
Aboard Titanic
Louise and her family boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg, France on April 10, 1912 as second-class passengers. Because of Titanics size, she could not fit in Cherbourg's harbour. White Star LineWhite Star Line
The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company or White Star Line of Boston Packets, more commonly known as the White Star Line, was a prominent British shipping company, today most famous for its ill-fated vessel, the RMS Titanic, and the World War I loss of Titanics sister ship Britannic...
tenders had to transport passengers out to Titanic, and the Laroche's were transported aboard the SS Nomadic.http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/people/louise-laroche.asp
Shortly after the Titanic struck the iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on April 14, Joseph woke Juliette and told her that the ship had suffered an accident. He put all of their valuables in his pockets, and he and his wife carried each of their sleeping daughters to the ship's deck.
It is not known for sure which lifeboat Juliette and her daughters escaped in, although Juliette remembered a countess being in her lifeboat. There was a countess on board the ship, Noël Leslie, Countess of Rothes
Noël Leslie, Countess of Rothes
Lucy Noël Martha Leslie, Countess of Rothes was the wife of the 19th Earl of Rothes, whom she married on 19 April 1900.-Biography:...
, who escaped in lifeboat 8, so it is likely that Juliette, Simonne and Louise all escaped the ship on this lifeboat. Joseph died in the sinking and his body, if recovered, was never identified.http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/people/louise-laroche.asp
Later in the day on April 15, Juliette and her daughters were picked up by the rescue ship RMS Carpathia
RMS Carpathia
RMS Carpathia was a Cunard Line transatlantic passenger steamship built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson. Carpathia made her maiden voyage in 1903 and became famous for rescuing the survivors of after the latter ship hit an iceberg and sank on 15 April 1912...
. Louise and her sister were hauled up to the its deck in burlap bags. On board the Carpathia
RMS Carpathia
RMS Carpathia was a Cunard Line transatlantic passenger steamship built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson. Carpathia made her maiden voyage in 1903 and became famous for rescuing the survivors of after the latter ship hit an iceberg and sank on 15 April 1912...
, Juliette found it very hard to get linens which she could use as diapers for her children. Since there were none to spare, Juliette improvised and at the end of each meal she would sit on napkins and conceal them and once back in the cabin, make diapers out of them.http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/people/louise-laroche.asp The Carpathia
RMS Carpathia
RMS Carpathia was a Cunard Line transatlantic passenger steamship built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson. Carpathia made her maiden voyage in 1903 and became famous for rescuing the survivors of after the latter ship hit an iceberg and sank on 15 April 1912...
arrived in New York City, New York on 18th, but there was no one to meet Juliette and her daughters, so Juliette decided not to continue to Haiti, but instead return to her family in Villejuif
Villejuif
Villejuif is a commune in the southern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris.-Name:The name Villejuif was recorded for the first time in a papal bull of 1119 as Villa Judea, the meaning of which is still debated...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The family returned in May 1912, and it was there that Juliette gave birth to her son who she named Joseph, in honor of his father.http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/people/louise-laroche.asp
Later years
In March 1995, Louise stepped aboard the Nomadic for the first time since 1912 when it carried her family to the Titanic from Cherbourg, France. Louise was joined by fellow Titanic survivor Millvina DeanMillvina Dean
Elizabeth Gladys Millvina Dean was the last remaining survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic, which occurred on 15 April 1912. At 2 months and 13 days of age, she was also the youngest passenger on board the ship....
.http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/people/louise-laroche.asp That same year, Louise was present as the Titanic Historical Society
Titanic Historical Society
The Titanic Historical Society, Inc. is a non-profit organization founded in 1963, whose purpose is the preservation of the history of the famous ocean liner RMS Titanic, which sank on April 15, 1912, in one of the greatest maritime disasters in history.Headquartered in Indian Orchard,...
dedicated a stone marker in Cherbourg commemorating Titanic passengers who sailed from its port.
Louise Laroche died on 28 January 1998 at the age of 87. Her death left seven remaining survivors.