Mauritz Håkan Björnström-Steffansson

Mauritz Håkan Björnström-Steffansson
Bjornstrom-Steffansson was in lifeboat D
Born	9 November 1883 Österfärnebo, Sweden
Died	21. May 1962 (1962-05-22) (aged 78) Manhattan, New York
Nationality	Swedish American
Occupation	Businessman
Known for	RMS Titanic Survivor

Mauritz Håkan Björnström-Steffansson (also referred to as Hokan B. Steffanson), (November 9, 1883 – May 21, 1962) was a Swedish businessman who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. In early 1913, Steffansson filed by far the largest claim for financial compensation made against the White Star Line, for the loss of a single item of luggage or cargo as a result of the disaster.

Mauritz Håkan was born to Erik Samuel Steffansson and Berta Maria Björnström on November 9, 1883 in Österfärnebo, Sweden. His father was a pioneer in the Swedish wood pulp industry. After studying chemical engineering at the Stockholm Institute of Technology, Steffansson was awarded a Swedish government scholarship to continue his studies in Washington, D.C. He became a reserve underlöjtnant in the Svea Artillery Regiment in 1904.

In 1917, Steffansson married Mary Pinchot Eno, whom he was introduced to by fellow Titanic survivor Helen Churchill Candee. In the 1920s, Steffansson made a large fortune by acquiring significant interests in Canadian paper and pulp industries, and in real estate. He was also responsible for developing significant real estate holdings in the Park Avenue area of New York into apartments and hotels. He retired in 1930.

Mary Björnström-Steffansson died in 1953, Mauritz Håkan in May 1962. At the time of his death, the couple's residence on East 57th Street was one of the few remaining private houses on Manhattan island. As the Björnström-Steffanssons were childless, the bulk of their fortune was left to Mauritz Håkan’s nephew Thord Steffansson.