Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
September 12, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
People File • Survivors

Violet Jessop

Violet Constance Jessop was an Argentine-born British ocean liner stewardess and nurse who became famous for surviving the sinking of RMS Titanic and HMHS Britannic, and for being aboard RMS Olympic during its collision with HMS Hawke.

Updated September 12, 20261 min readCited sources

Violet Jessop was a stewardess and nurse who survived three major maritime disasters, including the sinking of the Titanic. Her story remains a remarkable account of survival at sea.

Early life

Violet Jessop was born in 1887 near Bahía Blanca, Argentina, to Irish immigrant parents. After her father died, her family moved to Britain, where she later entered maritime service.

Maritime career and disasters

Jessop worked for the White Star Line as a stewardess aboard the Olympic, Titanic, and Britannic. During World War I, she served as a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse. She survived the Olympic’s collision with HMS Hawke (1911), the sinking of Titanic (1912), and the sinking of Britannic (1916).

Later life and death

After her years at sea, Jessop lived into old age and died on 5 May 1971. Accounts differ slightly on her exact age, but her legacy as a survivor of multiple disasters endures.

In short

  • Born in Argentina to Irish parents in 1887.
  • Survived the sinking of Titanic in 1912.
  • Survived the sinking of HMHS Britannic in 1916.
  • Worked as a stewardess and nurse for White Star Line.

Quick questions

Who is Violet Jessop?
Violet Jessop was an Argentine-born British ocean liner stewardess and nurse known for surviving the sinkings of Titanic and Britannic.
How did Violet Jessop survive the Titanic?
She was assigned as a stewardess on Titanic and boarded a lifeboat before it sank, urged by another crew member to leave the deck.
What ships did Violet Jessop survive?
She survived the Olympic’s collision with HMS Hawke (1911), the sinking of Titanic (1912), and the sinking of Britannic (1916).

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violet_Jessop
    Supports: Birth, nationality, occupation, and the three ship incidents.
  2. HowStuffWorks — https://history.howstuffworks.com/historical-figures/unsinkable-violet-jessop.htm
    Supports: Biographical overview and Titanic survival account.
  3. History.co.uk — https://www.history.co.uk/articles/unsinkable-violet-jessop
    Supports: Birth date and death date.
  4. Encyclopedia Titanica — https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivor/violet-constance-jessop.html
    Supports: Birthplace and Titanic stewardess details.
  5. Mental Floss — https://www.mentalfloss.com/history/titanic/titanic-survivor-violet-jessop-facts
    Supports: Death date and general biographical facts.
  6. Wikipedia Bahasa Melayu — https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violet_Jessop
    Supports: Occupation and Titanic/Britannic survival.