Joseph Laroche: The Sole Documented Black Passenger on the Titanic

Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche was the only documented black passenger on the Titanic, which embarked on its maiden voyage from Southampton on April 10, 1912. The ship, carrying 2,201 people, sank after hitting an iceberg four days later.

Born in 1886 in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, Laroche was the great-great grandson of Haiti's first emperor. He moved to France at 15 to study engineering, but faced racial discrimination throughout his life. He married Juliette Lafargue, a white French woman, and they had two daughters. The family planned to return to Haiti, and after a series of events, they boarded the Titanic as second-class passengers.

On April 14, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg. Laroche managed to wake his wife and gather their children, but he did not survive the sinking. His wife and daughters were rescued by the RMS Carpathia. Of the 285 second-class passengers, Laroche was among the 167 who perished. His story is now being told through a play directed by Dr. Carlette Norwood, set to debut at the Maritime Museum in Liverpool on October 17.