The CRAZY story of who took the MOST ICONIC TITANIC PHOTOS!!!

In this video we tell the story of Francis Browne, the man who took the most iconic photos of Titanic.
One small correction, the photo of the child I said was in 3rd class was actually in 1st. Sorry about that. :)
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#titanic #history #engineering #sinkingship #ocean #photography #camera

[@TaijanDean]

Imagine if he instead stayed on the Titanic for the rest of her voyage. We could have lost both him and those priceless photographs. It’s almost impossible to imagine the feeling of getting off the ship on its last port of call before the final destination only to find out that it sank on its way there. Facts like these are truly fascinating on so many levels.

[@qmacaulay69]

or alternatively he survives and maybe takes photos while the ship is sinking

[@Katoshi_Takagumi]

Francis Browne was incredibly lucky on two counts, first for the opportunity to document the Titanic, and being fortunate enough to have a very strict boss who very likely saved his life, and these photographs.

[@rayoflight6505]

@@qmacaulay69 did these old cameras have a flash though? Without a flash we wouldn't have seen much of the sinking.

[@qmacaulay69]

I think the first cameras with a flash came out in the 20-30s but I could be wrong so not much would of been seen

[@TheAnonymous-d4l]

@@qmacaulay69 i have written a comment explaining how he could NOT have taken photos of the ship sinking.

[@lune78]

Can you imagine if Instagram had existed back in 1912, Francis would've been posting pics of Titanic non-stop lol. Crazy how his boss basically saved his life by not allowing him to stay on the ship though.

[@ChairmanPaulieD]

Probably doing IG LIVE while taking selfies with Purser McElroy and possibly with Captain Smith lol 😂

[@HuskyGamersUNITE]

Im sure the ticket was very pricey and his boss used his own money to do it as a gift for him, and to buy the ticket just to the next stop and not the entire way was all he wanted to afford.

[@ChairmanPaulieD]

@@HuskyGamersUNITE I definitely agree with you on that . Catholic Priests don’t make a lot of money even in 1912 or in 2023 and that is a 110 years of a time difference 😬

[@dafyddthomas7299]

Extremely lucky indeed.

[@nmstranger]

@@HuskyGamersUNITE well the boss wasn't going to pay for the ticket to Queenstown to NY as a millionaire couple was going to pay. So it couldn't of been the cost when it comes to the boss.

[@donw3912]

I recall reading in one of my Titanic books that he almost tossed the Marconi Room pic out until he learned of the sinking. I recall also hearing that when he passed a massive trunk chock full of pictures was found he had taken over the years. An amazing man I am sure...and thank God he took all of the pics he did.

[@miliiflowers]

it's crazy to think that he was probably upset or sad that he couldn't stay on board the Titanic, but a few days later he was for sure thankful to his boss.. Thank you for this video Sam, there was a few of those photos that I've never seen, they are really good quality!

[@bigbaddms]

Aren’t they of amazing quality? And just imagine in the days of “archaic” film. Truly amazing how great the quality was, probably even better than digital

[@mergimvllasa7577]

@@bigbaddms Ikr, some of those photos are borderline 4k lol.

[@TrueCrazyLion]

Imagine if Francis Brown had had access to smartphones and Instagram! 🙂🙂 He was truly ahead of his time! And what he did with documenting his time on Titanic was awesome! 🙌 Excellent video Sam, I think you told his story really well here and brought it back to life 🙏 Great work!

[@stevenkarnisky411]

Francis Brown was not ahead of his time! Amateur photography became very popular early in the twentieth century, with the advent of Kodak company. He was certainly a good photographer, and a curious man, but there were many more just like him. He had the right talent, in the right place, at the right time!

[@arricammarques1955]

Digital images would have degraded Vrs. film.

[@wilhufftarkin8543]

This may sound morbid, but I often wonder how many interesting insights we would have if smartphones had been a thing during 9/11 or if GoPros had been a thing in WW2. I kind of envy future generations for having access to BILLIONS of HD and even higher resolution color VIDEOS (not just photos) of our time. I was born in the early 90s and even pictures and videos from my own childhood recorded on film and VHS - despite being in color - seem to me like from a forgotten world, because their (visual and sound) quality just gives them a feel like they're vague memories from a very long time ago. Pictures and video recordings from the 80s and 70s, from the time my parents were young, seem to me like eons ago, especially if they're in black-and-white - even though it was just a couple of years before my birth. However, HD videos from like 2008 or so seem like yesterday, even though they're just as long ago from now as 1980 was from the early 90s. You know what I mean?

[@CaptainJZH]

Father Browne really is one of my favorite passengers

[@therealtony2009]

Francis was a very interesting man, I remember reading about him and I find it amazing how an amateur photographer managed to take some of our most historically significant images.

[@BoomerG21]

What’s wild is that he took all these pictures but didn’t take one of the grand staircase. If I remember correctly, the pics of the grand staircase are actually of the staircase on the Olympic.

[@DutchDukeMan]

maybe it was too busy and as Sam said it was considered very rude to take pictures in public spaces

[@LDD911]

You're right. No photos exist of Titanic's Grand Staircase.

[@qazxsw21000]

@@DutchDukeMan My guess is because the clock had yet to be installed (it actually hadn't)

[@TheRookiefilm]

I've always thought it strange that a "press hungry" White Star Line didn't have photographers or a film crew for the first voyage.

[@simplystreeptacular]

They didn't see the need for the expense. After all, the two ships were nearly identical, and all the fanfare, photographs, video, etc. had been done for Olympic on her maiden voyage. They couldn't know just how famous the "middle sister" would become.

[@CaptainJZH]

They could just reuse photos from Olympic lol

[@chandyman21]

Maybe they could have, and then they all died in the sinking

[@darthhull85]

The titanic wasn’t as big of a deal as many think today. They did Al that with Olympic. The ships are essentially the same. No need to do it twice.

[@CaptainJZH]

@@darthhull85 They did, however, get plenty of pictures of the "new" spaces on board like the Cafe Parisen, which did not exist aboard Olympic

[@DanRelayer_Ukraine]

it's a bit of a pity he didn't try to make any night time pics on the boat deck. 'cause to think of it - we don't have any pictures of Titanic during the dark time of the day. In any case - I'm thankful for what we've got. Love these candid shots by Father Browne.

[@dschehutinefer5627]

I suspect it would have been troublesome to do with such a small pocket camera with such a short exposure time as Father Browne used. You probably would have only been able to see some vague shapes and dots of light and not much else.

[@richardfox7479]

If memory serves me right the young boy spinning his toy top was named Douglas Spedden, a young first class passenger traveling with his family. I believe he survived the sinking but tragically lost his life in an auto accident a few years later.

[@ChairmanPaulieD]

YES that’s correct he was actually the state of Maine’s FIRST victim to be killed by an automobile on August 08, 1912 at the age of 10 years old. Very tragic ending for a child who’s life was beginning. His mother Margaretta Corning “Daisy” Spedden wrote a book 📖 about her son called “My Story” featuring about a Polar Bear 🐻‍❄ that little Robert Douglas had a stuffed bear animal and was never without it

[@julieblount5674]

@@ChairmanPaulieD Aug of 1915

[@ChairmanPaulieD]

@@julieblount5674 I just realized that typo error

[@julieblount5674]

@@ChairmanPaulieD honest mistake. It's sad either way

[@halleyangel1706]

I'm curious of what's in the chair though. Since Douglas had a little polar bear toy with him named Polar. That his mother had written a book about her son and Polar. You can still buy it today.

[@LsBluu]

Let’s get Sam and Rosie that 100k sub plaque this year.

[@robertcouch9021]

His boss saved his life on hindsight, but his photos are amazing

[@ericstuglik7022]

Imagine if Father Brown had stayed aboard the Titanic, but he had survived the sinking along with his camera. We could have potentially had photos from the night the ship sank.

[@FlyTour69]

Man… if only…

[@diddyfaplord]

There is no way that camera would have made it out alive lol but that is fun to think about.

[@wilhufftarkin8543]

All of the photos, including those we have today, would have perished.

[@fastfiddler1625]

His boss could have let him go and we never would have had the iconic spinning top scene in the movie. I've never seen that last Captain Smith photo. This was incredibly interesting. Thank you for doing the research.

[@richardfox7479]

There’s a terrific collection of Father Browne’s photos in a book titled “The Last Days of the Titanic” by E.E. O’Donnell. It shows them as they originally were kept, in albums. Very interesting text as well. :-)

[@bluedolphin291]

I'm currently reading the book

[@mdit21]

The Olympic class ships were so photogenic, elegant, and classic (unlike today's ugly behemoths). My personal favorite photograph is the one showing a rare occurrence of both the Olympic and Titanic together (I believe the Olympic was in the shipyard for repairs while the Titanic was nearing completion).

[@eileendover3938]

Yes! It was taken about a month before Titanic sailed. The only time the two sisters were photographed together.

[@expensivepink7]

Big ships / cruise ships really are ugly today 😭

[@Sss25865]

I like the look of old ocean liners , tender boats and most old cruise ships . I pretty much like any old ship . Now today I don't like the designs of the very recent cruise ships (like cruise ships from 2020's) I don't like the designs probably because it's a literally swimming monster . And the funnels I only like the old ones.

[@thomasackerman5399]

The Odell family photos taken on the ship are also very iconic, including some very eerie photos taken at or near spots on the ship where in a few days, a great deal of drama would take place as the ship sank.

[@mikedicenso2778]

I'm really surprised that you didn't mention the Odell family, who were also traveling 1st class to Queenstown just as Father Browne was. Their photos are also very iconic, including their own photos the New York incident, but taken from a different vantage point on the ship as well as life on board in general. One of the more amazing photos is one taken while on the tender of the immense starboard side of Titanic. They also took one of the last photos of Titanic as she departed.

[@HistoricTravels]

Separate video. :)

[@mmiYTB]

The unsung hero was this "get off that ship" guy ;-)

[@vdochev]

Man, if only he had a digital camera with a few terabytes of memory...

[@bobstuckrath1805]

An amazing experience that delivered us these few photographs of the real Titanic. (and not the Olympic.

[@chrisnicholson2407]

Awesome video. But small correction. That wasn't a third class kid playing with the top. It was Douglas Spedden, who was traveling in first class with his parents and maid. Miraculously the whole family survived, but tragically Douglas died in a car accident three years later.

[@HistoricTravels]

Ohhh!!!! I didn’t know that, I always thought it was a third class kid. Thanks for telling me

[@chrisnicholson2407]

@Historic Travels no problem! And yeah, I'm pretty sure that photo was taken on A deck right outside the Palm courts, which was a 1st class area. Great video though. I really like these newer videos focusing on individual people's stories.

[@sabrinastratton1991]

@@HistoricTravels he also makes an appearance in the 1997 film by James Cameron briefly while Jack is sneaking around

[@joemotes]

Thank you very much Sam on this documentary, Father Brown was someone I did not know about, it's nice to know that many of these photos we have been seeing through the years are thanks to him.

[@101shapshifter]

Here's an interesting fact about me. My grandmother on my mother's side of the family, her maiden name is Browne. So in a way father Francis Browne could be one of my distant ancestors. Though odd thing is is that my grandfather was a real shutterbug of my mother's family.

[@DKrueger1994]

What a lucky man Francis Browne is. Had he stay on a little big longer, who knows what would've happened

[@ChairmanPaulieD]

I think there’s a good chance that he probably would’ve PERISHED in the sinking

[@DKrueger1994]

@@ChairmanPaulieD and the photos would've gone down as well

[@ChairmanPaulieD]

@@DKrueger1994 exactly 👈🏽

[@rab9309]

Unfortunately there would be a very high chance of him perishing with the ship as there was a very low chance of men being saved

[@Harcorwrestler]

Imagine how many other photos are at the bottom of the ocean by other people who took photos.

[@rileybridgham1963]

Excellent video Sam, the pictures that Francis took are incredible, keep up the awesome video content.

[@jennifernorth4110]

These pictures are so awesome! I get so much enjoyment from your videos about the Titanic!

[@petercliff4023]

A great story, great pictures and all down to one man. Thank you Francis Browne, thank god you "Got Off That Boat!"

[@ellennewth6305]

Fascinating video, Sam!

[@atomicenergysociety6038]

As always, you did a great job. Thank you!

[@llightskinned]

Y’know what’s crazy, I’ve never heard of this man nor seen any of these photos before prior to this video. It truly is incredible that these photos exist and survived long enough to be developed. You made the little archivist in me very happy with your incredible commentary as well. Master class video!

[@martayebio5382]

This is such a cool and interesting story! Thank you so much for sharing it with us!

[@MakeupMobster]

I’m so glad KZbin suggested your channel to me. I’ve been binge watching your videos over the course of the last few days. You do a great job of telling these stories of the titanic.

[@janinealexander6132]

I'm loving these unknown Titanic stories. Great channel!

[@janinealexander6132]

These photos are fascinating!

[@charleswilliams7019]

Fantastic video Sam. One of my favorites On this channel.

[@strodey123]

Imagine the pictures of the sinking if he had stayed on board, and had given the camera to someone in the last lifeboat to leave (assuming he wouldn't have survived).

[@gregorymoore2877]

I think the likelihood of pictures of the sinking, much less quality pictires, would be very low, considering: 1. He would have he to find somebody who knew how to use the camera 2. Even if they knew how to use the camera, they would have had to have some skill in using the camera 3. If the above were true, the person would had to have their hands free to take pictures. Many people were put to work rowing, and happily rowed to keep warm. 4. Would it have been considered in good to taste to take pictures of people dying? It was apparently considered rude just take some candid pictures of the first class dining room, so... 5. Would the pictures have turned out good? Was camera technology good enough to allow for night time photos? Keeping the camera still would be very challenging in a small boat that's bobbing in the waves. How long did the exposure take for a camera like that? Not to be a downer, and it is tantalizing to think about, but everything would have to happen in exactly the right way for that to happen.

[@andrewweinberger4430]

Great history and you are a delight! Keep up the good work, subscribed!

[@susanbeal4322]

Great job on this video . Thank you so much!

[@stevenbongiorno9277]

That was really cool to see. I had no idea about this story, and how important it is

[@michaelgordon8763]

WOW....well done...I've seen a handful of his photo's and knew just the backstory that he got off at Queenston. Thank you so much for sharing more of his photo's and more about Father Brown...a Friday evening viewing treat :)

[@heartodixie7677]

Awesome video, Sam!

[@TheSuccessfulHuman]

I love this channel. :) Thank you!

[@ianmc87]

Wonderful video, Sam. Well done!

[@freaky4zion]

Another great video!

[@brandancharland4425]

Great video brother keep it up!

[@smelly_elvis]

What I find interesting about Browne's "maneuverability test picture" is that it perfectly represents the maneuver Murdoch / Titanic made to avoid the iceberg just days later.

[@Freakingfantasticfilms]

I love his little story! Great job sam!

[@jessedierksheide]

You know what would have been interesting as if he Was going to New York and during the sinking he took all kinds of photos and then wrote gotta photo as a breakup showing how it happened

[@smith041958]

Thank you for an excellent and interesting video. A thought came to me. Had the Titanic docked at Queenstown, the timeline would have changed and the ship probably would not have collided with the iceberg. Also, is it known which of the Marconi operators, Phillips or Bride was in the photo taken in the room?

[@fulltechahead]

great information...enjoyed this

[@allistergraham6704]

Really enjoyed this, great channel, subbed

[@Nassault]

Awesome video, great to see these photos both historically but also though his lens personally. Great stuff

[@TomJudson]

Very, very interesting stuff indeed! Good job!

[@scook5599]

Great video. I love your enthusiasm! Of course, as a Titanic "enthusiast" I was aware of Father Browne. But your highlighting his amazing contribution was very interesting. I imagine that Fr. Browne's pictures possibly aided many Titanic historians in their work.

[@neilbain8736]

I love the Fr Browne story and the perspicacity of the man. He could see people and their situation, angles, proportions. He was obviously good with people, and quite simply his uniform would open doors. I bet he knew it too. If he was born in 1880, then he would easily have made it into the 1950's or 60's so it would be nice if there were recordings of him talking or being interviewed. It would also be nice if there were genuine colour photos of the Titanic. As far as I know there aren't any. although the Lumiere Bros had their successful Autochrome colour process from 1907.

[@danielbishop1863]

He did live until 1960.

[@johnvan6082]

FANTASTIC STORY ! Loved it . I've never seen or read anything on this subject . GREAT JOB . John from Pittsburgh

[@cotybowman8825]

I really enjoy your videos. I am waiting for a transplant and have a lot of time on my hands. Your videos are a great way to pass the time. Thank you.

[@Himdits]

Awesome video I watch every one the second I can

[@Camibug]

I’m slacking because I’ve never seen many of these photos! Wow!

[@indramani8888]

Brown must have thanked his Boss like anything

[@kaneki-ken96]

His pictures of the Titanic are DOPE 😍

[@lloydknighten5071]

Sam, this video was a perfect birthday gift for me (January 21). Thank God that Father Brown left TITANIC before she headed out to sea. Had he stayed aboard, these wonderful photos would have been lost to us and history.

[@comdam]

this was really good. love all the photos

[@zedrickjohandy3938]

Great video 😊😊😊

[@SezFrancis1]

Great video, Sam! I have always admired Francis and his love for photography but I didn't know he took a picture of the First Class dining room. That took a lot of guys! 😊

[@mnfirefighter813]

Great video!

[@nathanlerma9891]

Simply amazing

[@greeneeko]

Loved it!

[@incredingo]

amazing story. thank you

[@jeffstrains4014]

Almost like a time traveler story wow!! the side of that hull looks amazing! @ 13:39

[@brutzese1968]

Keep it coming

[@canadiandeplorable6413]

Francis Brown had a good eye for when to take the shot. The young boy picture has the coat sitting on the bench that gave James Cameron the idea for Jack to steal it it seems.

[@timmadone8930]

I'm a huge fan of all things Titanic & some of these pics I've never seen, so thanks for including them in your video along with info on Francis Browne. I recently uploaded a video showing a brief tour of the ship as seen in one of the zombie modes from "Black Ops 4". I missed a few areas but overall it turned out okay especially considering what I had to work with. Just thought I'd mention it since you said you play video games. Looking forward to seeing James Cameron's "Titanic" in 3D on the big screen once again next month.

[@ChairmanPaulieD]

I always wonder who took the photo of 6 yr old Robert Douglas Spedden may his soul RIP 11-19-1905 - 08-06-1915

[@ChairmanPaulieD]

Sam the Spedden family we’re VERY WEALTHY and Frederic Oakley was a New York Banker who financed many prominent millionaires in NYC and all of New England during the early 1900’s. You should do a video about them

[@robburns4176]

I can only imagine what other cameras and film went down with Titanic

[@forsagebone]

7:31 I'm guessing the reason why the photo quality is so low is because he had to hastily take a picture before anyone can see him so he wouldn't be called rude.

[@HistoricTravels]

good point, never thought about that.

[@DutchDukeMan]

the original photo is actually in good quality but Sam uploaded a crappy one

[@celtic8676]

Love your work also where did you get those small models?

[@vegasvideopro]

Very informative video. The amount of research that had to go into this video had to pretty extensive.

[@essbe7158]

Great video.

[@clairefunnell8481]

Father Brown took many photos. Lucky he did too.

[@ChrisManley1994]

These photos are fantastic, truly a piece of history!

[@ianmc87]

Thanks!

[@EpicNateWarriorV2]

Hey, Sam, you're awesome at your work you did an amazing job my nephew told me so much about the titanic it made me interested in the titanic it later became a hobby now it’s an interest now I’m happy my nephew got me interested In the titanic Anyway, your videos are awesome it makes me love the titanic even more because of how much I’m learning every day I hope you have an amazing night Sam!

[@thenextsamcassell]

great video

[@JosephStalin-fr5ur]

Love the vids I was stalin in one of your steams lol.

[@dishsoap1]

You should have mentioned the book, Traveling on Titanic With Father Brown. The second edition came out a few months back with new photos.

[@spirktrekker362]

Great video, I’d never thought about that before. Glad he lived thanks to that ANGRY 1912 TEXT.

[@larrydemaar409]

Did anyone occupy A-37 after Father Brown left the ship?

[@munircryptical]

Man I thought he had a picture of the grand staircase, but still, his pictures are amazing. Thanks Father Browne.

[@natalieerickson5519]

Fun thought: you've (a vlogger - which is a sort of documentarian) just done a video on the first man to ever do any type of documentary of Titanic. When you were first describing him walking around with his vest camera I was thinking - so, he looked like a cruise vlogger today. How interesting. You're delightful to watch! Prayers that your ever hope comes to pass. ✌️❤️

[@Steve-gc5nt]

That's a great story, Sam. 🙏 Some superb photographs. I wonder if the people who befriended Browne survived?

[@Vlad-1986]

That is quite cool! Film was quite pricey at the time, so that Kodak gift was quite generous (and the price would make you consider twice before snapping random photos)

[@jasonpeck7297]

I really enjoy your videos I watch all the time I know u mainly focus on titanic but I was wondering if u could do a video on the submarine the Hunley there isn't much on it on KZbin and I think u would do good job explaining it

[@ErikVince]

Sounds like Frances Brown got lucky when his boss told him no because if his boss said yes chances are he made have not have survived the sinking

[@richardhimlin4102]

I discovered this channel recently and I enjoy it. You are a very intelligent young man you do very well in your research. I have been interested in the Titanic ever since it was found in 1985 and I have read a lot of books about it. I have some questions about its sinking: 1. The 300 ft hash was not a gash but buckled plates and the experts in 1912 at the hearings and today's researchers concluded the area opened to the sea was no more than 12 square feet. The is less than the area of a standard doorway. Yet the ship sank in a little more than 2 hours. 2. The Andrea Doria was rammed by the Stockholm. The Stockholm's bow penetrated almost halfway into the Andria Doria and left a gash in the Andria Doria 40 ft wide yet took the Andria Doria over 11 hours to sink. Why the discrepancy between the 2 ships? 3. What about the secret gold shipment that was supposed to be on the Titanic. I heard about this in 1985 when they first discovered the ship but I have not heard anymore about it. 4. What better way to cover up a gold theft than to sink the ship. 5. A survivor reported that prior to striking the iceberg, he heard 2 explosions. 6. J P Morgan owned the Titanic and was a ruthless SOB, he cancelled his trip on the Titanic at the last minute. These are issues you should look into. Thanks, RJHIMLIN

[@roberthess3939]

Great job Sam. Like many of the comments below, you brought Fr. Browne to life! I had to laugh when you said that Fr. Browne had to ask his "boss" for permission to continue on board. I thought you meant that Fr. Browne needed to pray and ask God for permission! I don't think the Marconi wireless could have pulled that off! "Get off that ship!" Yep...definitely smart advice! Best,

[@donnakebab9055]

I went to the Titanic museum when I was in Cobh/Queenstown in Ireland a few years ago. His photos were on display there.

[@Donabate2]

In Ireland we simply call it Cobh, .

[@donnakebab9055]

@@Donabate2 i referred Cobh by it's English name as that's what it was called in the video by Sam. I thought people might get confused if I didn't use both names.

[@Irishdrivingbloopers]

Hi Sam. I love your videos about the Titanic and nobody does it quite like you. Props dude (no pun intended lol) but I do feel the need to tell you that "Queenstown" was the name given to that particular part of County Cork in Ireland during its occupation by the British forces but its real name is Cobh. That is pronounced like cove and I only add that because it seems to be a tricky one to voice properly for many tourists that visit it. Cheers for all your hard work and so many videos I have watched in the past year and I hope to see many more from you 😎.

[@vernsnith2230]

Sir: I believe that his "boss" was his BISHOP!!