American businessman (1861–1912)
George Dunton Widener (June 16, 1861 – April 15, 1912) was an American businessman who died in the sinking of theRMSTitanic .[ 1]
Early life and family [ edit ] Widener was born inPhiladelphia on June 16, 1861. He was the eldest son of Hannah Josephine Dunton (1836–1896) andPeter Arrell Brown Widener (1834–1915),[ 2] [ 3]
Widener had a paternal uncle who was similarly-namedGeorge Widener (1820–1901) and served as a member of thePhiladelphia City Council .[ 4]
Widener joined his father's business and eventually took over the running of the Philadelphia Traction Company, overseeing the development of cable and electricstreetcar operations. He also served on theboard of directors of several important area businesses, including Philadelphia Traction Co., Land Title Bank and Trust Co.,Electric Storage Battery Co. , and Portland Cement Co. A patron of the arts, he was a director of thePennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts .
In 1912, Widener, his wife, Eleanor, and their son, Harry, traveled to Paris with original intentions to find a chef for Widener's newPhiladelphia hotel, theRitz Carlton . They booked their return passage onRMSTitanic . After the ship struck theiceberg , Widener placed Eleanor and her maid, Amalie Gieger,[ 5] RMSCarpathia , but Widener, Harry, and their valet, Edwin Keeping,[ 5] [ 6] [ 7]
In 1883, Widener marriedEleanor Elkins ,[ 8] William Lukens Elkins .[ 9]
After Widener and Harry's deaths aboard theTitanic , a memorial service was held atSt. Paul's Episcopal Church inElkins Park, Pennsylvania , wherestained glass windows were dedicated in their memory.[ 20] [ 21] [ 22]
Widener was the maternal grandfather ofFitz Eugene Dixon Jr. (1923–2006).[ 17] [ 18] Philadelphia 76ers and was a part owner of theEagles ,Phillies , andFlyers .[ 23]
Widener had commissionedHorace Trumbauer to design and oversee construction ofMiramar 2 ) French neoclassical-style mansion bordering Bellevue Avenue onAquidneck Island atNewport, Rhode Island . Intended as a summer home, it was still in the design stage at the time of his death.[ 24]
Guy Standing Jr. (1953) -Titanic Péter Kõszegi (2012) -Titanic ^ "PETER A.B. WIDENER IS 78.; Memory of Drowned Son Overshadows Wealthy Philadelphian's Old Age" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "P.A.B. WIDENER, CAPITALIST, DIES; Traction and Tobacco Financier Expires at 80 at His Home in Elkins Park. LEFT ABOUT $35,000,000 Philanthropist and Patron of the Arts Began His Career in Philadelphia as a Butcher" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "A CABLE TRACTION COMPANY" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "George Widener Dead" . RetrievedAugust 7, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.^a b "Eleanor Widener : Titanic Survivor" .www.encyclopedia-titanica.org . Retrieved2022-03-18 .^ "42 OF THE TITANIC'S VICTIMS IDENTIFIED; Total Number of Bodies Recovered Near Scene of Disaster Reaches Seventy-seven" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "FUNERAL SHIP NOW ON WAY TO HALIFAX; Sends Message That G.D. Widener's Body Is Among Those Recovered" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "MRS. G. D. WIDENER TO MARRY DR. RICE; South American Explorer to Wed Widow of Titanic Victim in Boston on Oct. 14. HER MEMORIAL GIFTS Philadelphia Society Woman Noted for Her Beauty and Jewels;- Dr. Rice's Scientific Achievements" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "PEARLS FOR MRS. WIDENER.; Philadelphia Hears She Is to Get the $750,000 Necklace" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "MRS. A.H. RICE GIVES HILL SCHOOL $300,000; Memorial Building for Son, Harry Widener, Will Provide Means for Boys to Develop Hobbies" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "George Widener, Racing Figure, Dies at 82" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "Mrs. George Widener, 84, Wife. of Sportsman, Dies" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "MRS. W. EARL DODGE WEDS G.D. WIDENER; Divorcee, the Elder Daughter of Henry T. Sloane, Is Married in Her Home. FEW AT THE CEREMONY Young Philadelphian, Son of Late Financier, and His Bride Leave for South on Honeymoon" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "MRS. WIDENER DIXON, PHILANTHROPIST, 74" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "MISS WIDENER ENGAGED.; Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George D. Widener to Marry Fitz Eugene Dixon" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "MISS E. E. WIDENER WEDS; Simple Ceremony for Daughter of Late G. D. Widener and F. E. Dixon" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^a b "SUES FITZ EUGENE DIXON; Wife, Widener Kin, Asks Divorce at Norristown, Pa" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^a b "MARRIES AFTER DIVORCE; Mrs. H. W. Road Weds Fitz E. Dixon in Reno" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "PHILADELPHIA YACHTS GO INTO NAVY SERVICE; Mrs. Eleanor Widener Dixon and H.L. Adams Turn Over Boats" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "P.A.B. WIDENER GIVES $4,000,000 TO SCHOOL; Endowment Is Announced Coincident with the Filing of His Son's and Grandson's Wills" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "FOR WIDENER MEMORIAL.; Cornerstone Laid by Mother of Titanic Victim -- Harvard Prizes" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "WIDENER PLANS MEMORIAL.; Will Add to the Home for Crippled Children at Philadelphia" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ "Fitz Dixon Jr., Who Signed Dr. J, Dies at 82" .The New York Times . Retrieved17 May 2017 .^ Providence Journal - December 2, 2006English
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Mr George Dunton Widener,Encyclopedia Titanica Homans, James E., ed. (1918)."Widener, George Dunton" The Cyclopædia of American Biography . New York: The Press Association Compilers, Inc. Titanic: Triumph and Tragedy , by John P. Eaton and Charles A. Haas, W.W. Newton & Company, 2nd edition 1995ISBN 0-393-03697-9 A Night to Remember , by Walter Lord, ed. Nathaniel Hilbreck, Owl Books, rep. 2004,ISBN 0-8050-7764-2
Homans, James E., ed. (1918)."Widener, George Dunton" .The Cyclopædia of American Biography. New York: The Press Association Compilers, Inc.
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