Jack Thayer was born on December 24, 1894, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was the son of John Borland Thayer, Jr., a vice president of the Philadelphia Railroad, and Marian Thayer, a socialite. Thayer grew up in Philadelphia and received his education at the prestigious University of Pennsylvania.
Jack Thayer is most well-known for his incredible survival story from the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. After the ship struck an iceberg and began to sink, Thayer made the split-second decision to jump into the freezing cold water. He was later rescued by Lifeboat 12, one of the few lifeboats that made it safely away from the sinking ship.
Following his rescue, Thayer published a personal account of the Titanic disaster. In his memoir, he detailed the horrifying events that led to the deaths of his father and many other passengers on board. The tragedy deeply affected Thayer, and he struggled to come to terms with the loss of his loved ones.
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Thayer served in the United States Army during the First World War. Despite facing the horrors of war, Thayer continued to demonstrate bravery and resilience in the face of adversity.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck again in Thayer's life. His mother passed away on the anniversary of the Titanic disaster, adding to his already immense grief. To make matters worse, his son, a fighter pilot, went missing in combat during World War II. The overwhelming loss of his family members took a toll on Thayer, leading to his untimely death.
Jack Thayer was married to Lois Buchanan Cassatt from 1917 until his death. Together, they had five children named Edward, John, Julie, Pauline, and Lois. Despite the hardships he faced, Thayer's legacy lives on through his descendants and his remarkable story of survival.
In addition to his own story of survival, Jack Thayer is often associated with other Titanic survivors, such as Eva Hart. Their shared experience of the tragedy created a bond between them that transcended time and space.
Jack Thayer's life was marked by courage, resilience, and tragedy. His story serves as a reminder of the fragility of life and the strength of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.