Key facts about Marie-Eugénie Spencer
- Marie-Eugénie was born in France in 1864 and married American expatriate William Augustus Spencer in London in 1884.
- The couple lived mainly in Paris and travelled to New York in 1912 after the death of William’s brother Lorillard Spencer.
- Their longtime maid Élise Lurette accompanied them aboard Titanic from Cherbourg.
- Marie-Eugénie and Lurette survived together, but William Spencer died in the sinking.
- The exact lifeboat carrying the two women is uncertain and is not assigned here.
- Marie-Eugénie returned to Paris and died on October 26, 1913, aged 49.
From rural France to a wealthy Paris household
Marie-Eugénie was born in France on February 16, 1864. Her mother later married Louis Nicholas Demougeot, and Marie-Eugénie used her stepfather’s surname before her marriage.
She met William Augustus Spencer, a member of a wealthy New York family that had settled in Paris, and the couple married in London on Christmas Eve 1884. Their principal home was in Paris, while William also maintained ties and property interests in New York.
A family estate brought the Spencers onto Titanic
William’s brother Lorillard Spencer died in New York in March 1912, leaving William responsible for estate matters. That business gave the couple a reason to cross the Atlantic soon afterward.
Marie-Eugénie and William boarded Titanic at Cherbourg on April 10 with Élise Lurette, who had served the family for decades. Lurette occupied cabin B80. Surviving accommodation records place the Spencers in the nearby B Deck suite area, although the precise cabin notation varies among historical records.
Marie-Eugénie was in poor health during the crossing
Research into the Spencer household indicates that Marie-Eugénie was already in poor health by the spring of 1912. She appears to have spent much of the voyage in her cabin rather than taking part in the public life of the ship.
Bedroom steward Henry Etches later described trying to wake passengers in this B Deck area and encountering an American couple who were reluctant to open their door until they understood the danger. Modern research has examined whether that encounter involved the Spencers, but the cabin evidence is complicated enough that it should not be presented as certain.
She and Élise reached a port-side lifeboat
According to family material preserved through Lurette, the maid dressed quickly, joined Marie-Eugénie and accompanied her to the port side of the Boat Deck. The two women entered a lifeboat together. William remained behind with the men still waiting on deck.
The exact lifeboat carrying Marie-Eugénie and Élise is uncertain. Both women survived, but William died when Titanic sank and his body was never identified.
A short life after Titanic
Marie-Eugénie arrived in New York aboard Carpathia on April 18. She later filed an insurance claim for clothing and other personal belongings lost with Titanic. The claim listed dozens of items and reflected the expensive first-class household goods carried on the voyage.
She returned to France, but her health continued to decline. Marie-Eugénie Spencer died in Paris on October 26, 1913, aged 49. She was among the earliest adult Titanic survivors to die after the disaster.
Sources used for this biography
The specialist Spencer biography brings together French civil records, family research, Titanic accommodation evidence and the surviving account of Élise Lurette.
- Encyclopedia Titanica: Marie-Eugénie Spencer Birth, marriage, Paris household, reason for travel, Titanic party, evacuation and death in 1913.
- U.S. Senate Inquiry: Henry S. Etches testimony Contemporary testimony describing the effort to rouse passengers in the B Deck cabin area.
- TitanicSurvivors.com: Eugénie Elise Lurette Companion biography for Marie-Eugénie’s maid and fellow survivor.
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Marie-Eugénie Spencer?
She was a French first-class passenger living in Paris with her American husband William Augustus Spencer.
Why were the Spencers travelling to New York?
William Spencer needed to deal with estate matters after the death of his brother Lorillard in March 1912.
Did Marie-Eugénie Spencer survive Titanic?
Yes. She survived with her maid Élise Lurette. Her husband William died in the sinking.
Which lifeboat did Marie-Eugénie Spencer use?
The exact boat number is uncertain, so this site does not assign one.