Arthur Godfrey Peuchen
| Arthur Godfrey Peuchen | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
April 18, 1859 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Died | December 7, 1929 (aged 70) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Thompson (1893) |
Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Godfrey Peuchen (April 18, 1859 – December 7, 1929) was a Canadian businessman and RMS Titanic survivor.
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Peuchen was the son of a railroad contractor; his maternal grandfather managed the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. He was educated in private schools.
In 1888, he entered military life and became a lieutenant of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada. Peuchen moved up the ranks, and in 1911, was marshalling officer at the coronation of George V.
In 1897, Peuchen perfected plans for extracting useful chemicals from coarse hardwoods and waste woods, the principal products being acetic acid, acetate of lime, acetone, methanol, and formaldehyde. The acids were used by dyeing industries, formaldehyde was used by wheat growers in Canada, and acetone was used to manufacture high explosives like cordite.
Peuchen subsequently became president of Standard Chemical, Iron & Lumber Company of Canada, Ltd. The company had many plants and facilities in Canada, as well as refineries located in Canada (Montreal), France, Germany, and the UK (London). Because some company facilities were located abroad, Peuchen often traveled to Europe by ship.
Peuchen owned a yacht named Vreda, which crossed the Atlantic under its own canvas. Additionally, he was, for a time, Vice-Commodore and Rear-Commodore of the Royal Canadian Yacht Club.
Peuchen boarded Titanic at Southampton, on 10 April 1912, as a first-class passenger on his 40th transatlantic voyage. He reportedly was concerned that Captain Smith was in command, because he thought Smith was a poor commander and too old.
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