Lawrence Beesley was a science teacher, journalist, Titanic survivor, and author of the successful book, The Loss of the S.S. Titanic, based on his experience that harrowing night. A second class passenger, Beesley had been in his cabin reading when the collision occurred, and through a chance of fate happened to be on A-deck when men were allowed to board the lifeboats. After the sinking, Beesley returned to England and resumed his career in education. Lawrence Beesley died on February 14, 1967, at the age of 89.