Profile of the Day: Henry Samuel Morley

Posted April 13, 2012 by Amanda | One Comment

Henry Samuel Morley

Today’s Titanic passenger story involves love, a sapphire necklace and tragedy. Remember the necklace worn by Kate Winslet’s character in James Cameron’s film Titanic? It was inspired by today’s tragic Titanic love story. Henry Samuel Morley was a confectioner from England. Although he was married and had a 12-year-old daughter, Henry made plans to leave England and travel to California. He told his friends he was traveling to the United States to recuperate from illness, however he was in fact planning to elope with Kate Phillips, his 20-year-old confectionery assistant.

Morley sold two of his shops and gave the money to his wife and daughter and purchased two second class passenger seats under the names Mr. and Mrs. Marshall. Henry gave Kate an Edwardian sapphire necklace, the very piece that would inspire the “Heart of the Ocean” necklace in the movie.

Sadly, the couple never made it to California. After the Titanic struck the iceberg, Kate was ushered into lifeboat #11. Henry, unable to swim, went down with the ship. His body was never recovered.

Shortly after the disaster, Kate discovered she was pregnant and gave birth to Ellen Phillips nine months after the sinking. Was she conceived aboard the Titanic? Throughout her life, Ellen claimed Henry was her father, however, her paternity was never proven with DNA tests.

Henry Samuel Morley’s family tree is is not yet connected to Geni’s World Family Tree. Perhaps you can join the RMS Titanic project and help connect him and other Titanic passengers to over 60 million profiles on Geni!