Karl Behr
Encyclopedia
Karl Howell Behr was an American tennis player and banker. He was also a survivor of the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
and attended Yale University
and was admitted to the bar association
in 1910.
Behr was also a well known lawn tennis
star, playing on the United States Davis Cup team in 1907. Behr, with Beals C. Wright
, was also runner up in the men's doubles at the 1907 Wimbledon Championships
, losing to Norman Brookes
and Tony Wilding
in three sets, 4:6, 4:6 and 2:6.
of Europe, but Behr followed them under the guise of a business trip. Behr occupied cabin C-148 during the voyage.
Sometime after the ship hit the iceberg, Behr met up with Helen, her mother and stepfather, Richard and Sallie Beckwith; and another couple, Edwin and Gertrude Kimball, on the boat deck. Under the watch of Third Officer
Herbert Pitman
, the group gathered around lifeboat 5. Gertrude Kimball asked J. Bruce Ismay
if all of their group could enter the boat. Ismay replied, "Of course, madam, every one of you." As a result, Karl Behr and his friends were rescued in lifeboat 5, the second boat to leave the ship. After the rescue, several newspapers reported that Behr had proposed to Miss Newsom in the lifeboat.
While aboard the rescue ship, RMS Carpathia
, Behr and several other passengers, including Molly Brown, organized and formed a committee to honour the bravery of the Carpathias captain, Arthur Rostron
, and the ship's crew. They later presented an inscribed silver cup to Rostron, and medals to each of the ship's 320 crew.
in New York City. The couple had four children together: Karl H. Behr Jr. (1914–2002), Peter Howell Behr (1915–1997), James Howell Behr (1920–1976), and Sally Howell Behr (later Mrs. Samuel Leonard Pettit) (1928–1995). After her husband's death, Helen remarried one of his best friends and former tennis partners, Dean Mathey.
Behr continued his tennis career after the sinking, and went on to win the Davis Cup
with fellow survivor R. Norris Williams
. In 1915, Behr defeated Maurice McLoughlin
, considered the world's best tennis player, in straight sets, 8–6, 7–5, 7–5.
Behr also gave up his career in law, instead turning to banking. He was vice-president of Dillon, Read & Co.
and sat on the board of the Fisk Rubber Company, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
, and the National Cash Register Company
. At the time of his death, he was a director of the Interchemical Corporation, the Behr-Manning Corporation of Troy, New York
, and the Witherbee Sherman Corporation. His clubs included the Downtown, University and Yale, and the St. Nicholas Society.
. He was posthumously honored by the International Tennis Hall of Fame
in 1969.
Personal life
Karl Howell Behr was born the son of Herman and Grace (née Howell) Behr of New York City. He was the brother of Max H. Behr, the well-known golfer. Behr was educated at Lawrenceville SchoolLawrenceville School
The Lawrenceville School is a coeducational, independent preparatory boarding school for grades 9–12 located on in the historic community of Lawrenceville, in Lawrence Township, New Jersey, U.S., five miles southwest of Princeton....
and attended Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and was admitted to the bar association
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1910.
Behr was also a well known lawn tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
star, playing on the United States Davis Cup team in 1907. Behr, with Beals C. Wright
Beals Wright
Beals Coleman Wright , was an American male tennis player.Beals was born in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, the son of Cincinnati Red Stockings great George Wright and nephew of Cincinnati Red Stockings team founder Harry Wright...
, was also runner up in the men's doubles at the 1907 Wimbledon Championships
1907 Wimbledon Championships
The 1907 Wimbledon Championships was a tennis tournament played on Outdoor grass courts which took place at the All England Club. The Prince of Wales and his wife came as spectators. The Centre Court was protected by a tarpaulin cover for the first time.-Men's Singles: Norman Brookes def...
, losing to Norman Brookes
Norman Brookes
Brookes was also an Australian rules footballer in his youth, playing two matches for Victorian Football League club St Kilda Football Club in 1898, kicking two goals.-Honours:Norman Brookes was knighted "in recognition of service to public service" in 1939...
and Tony Wilding
Tony Wilding
Anthony "Tony" Frederick Wilding was a champion tennis player from Christchurch, New Zealand and a soldier killed in action during World War I near Neuve-Chapelle, Pas-de-Calais, France....
in three sets, 4:6, 4:6 and 2:6.
RMS Titanic
In 1912, Behr booked first class passage on board the RMS Titanic. His main reason for traveling was due to his pursuit of fellow first class passenger Helen Newsom, who was a friend of Behr's sister. Newsom's mother, in an attempt to discourage the relationship, tried to separate the pair by taking her daughter on a Grand TourGrand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
of Europe, but Behr followed them under the guise of a business trip. Behr occupied cabin C-148 during the voyage.
Sometime after the ship hit the iceberg, Behr met up with Helen, her mother and stepfather, Richard and Sallie Beckwith; and another couple, Edwin and Gertrude Kimball, on the boat deck. Under the watch of Third Officer
Third Officer
Third Officer may refer to:*Third Officer , a rarely used rank in civil aviation companies*Third mate, a merchant marine rank*A rank in the Women's Royal Naval Service corresponding to Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Navy...
Herbert Pitman
Herbert Pitman
Herbert John "Bert" Pitman MBE was the Third Officer on board the . He was the only deck officer who was not a member of the Royal Naval Reserve.-Early life and career:...
, the group gathered around lifeboat 5. Gertrude Kimball asked J. Bruce Ismay
J. Bruce Ismay
Joseph Bruce Ismay was an English businessman who served as chairman and managing director of the White Star Line of steamships. He came to international attention as the highest-ranking White Star official among the 706 survivors Joseph Bruce Ismay (12 December 1862 – 17 October 1937) was...
if all of their group could enter the boat. Ismay replied, "Of course, madam, every one of you." As a result, Karl Behr and his friends were rescued in lifeboat 5, the second boat to leave the ship. After the rescue, several newspapers reported that Behr had proposed to Miss Newsom in the lifeboat.
While aboard the rescue ship, RMS Carpathia
RMS Carpathia
RMS Carpathia was a Cunard Line transatlantic passenger steamship built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson. Carpathia made her maiden voyage in 1903 and became famous for rescuing the survivors of after the latter ship hit an iceberg and sank on 15 April 1912...
, Behr and several other passengers, including Molly Brown, organized and formed a committee to honour the bravery of the Carpathias captain, Arthur Rostron
Arthur Rostron
Sir Arthur Henry Rostron, KBE, RD, RNR was a Captain for the Cunard Line and was the master of the ocean liner RMS Carpathia when it rescued the survivors of the RMS Titanic which sank on 15 April 1912 after striking an iceberg.Captain Rostron won wide praise for his energetic efforts to reach the...
, and the ship's crew. They later presented an inscribed silver cup to Rostron, and medals to each of the ship's 320 crew.
Later life
Despite her mother's objections, Behr married Helen Newsom on March 1, 1913 at the Church of the TransfigurationLittle Church Around the Corner
The Church of the Transfiguration, also known as the Little Church Around the Corner, is an Episcopal parish church located at 1 East 29th Street, between Madison and Fifth Avenues in the NoMad neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. The congregation was founded in 1848 by the Rev. Dr...
in New York City. The couple had four children together: Karl H. Behr Jr. (1914–2002), Peter Howell Behr (1915–1997), James Howell Behr (1920–1976), and Sally Howell Behr (later Mrs. Samuel Leonard Pettit) (1928–1995). After her husband's death, Helen remarried one of his best friends and former tennis partners, Dean Mathey.
Behr continued his tennis career after the sinking, and went on to win the Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
with fellow survivor R. Norris Williams
R. Norris Williams
Richard "Dick" Norris Williams II , generally known as R. Norris Williams, was an American male tennis player.-Biography:He was born in Geneva, Switzerland....
. In 1915, Behr defeated Maurice McLoughlin
Maurice McLoughlin
Maurice Evans McLoughlin was an American tennis player. Known for his powerful serve and overhead volley, McLoughlin was the first male tennis champion from the western United States.-Biography:...
, considered the world's best tennis player, in straight sets, 8–6, 7–5, 7–5.
Behr also gave up his career in law, instead turning to banking. He was vice-president of Dillon, Read & Co.
Dillon, Read & Co.
Dillon, Read & Co. was a prominent American investment bank from the 1920s into the 1960s.-Origins:Dillon Read traces its roots to 1832 with the founding of the Wall Street brokerage firm Carpenter & Vermilye. This firm was succeeded by Read & Company in which chief principal was William A. Read. ...
and sat on the board of the Fisk Rubber Company, the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
, and the National Cash Register Company
NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation is an American technology company specializing in kiosk products for the retail, financial, travel, healthcare, food service, entertainment, gaming and public sector industries. Its main products are self-service kiosks, point-of-sale terminals, automated teller machines, check...
. At the time of his death, he was a director of the Interchemical Corporation, the Behr-Manning Corporation of Troy, New York
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, and the Witherbee Sherman Corporation. His clubs included the Downtown, University and Yale, and the St. Nicholas Society.
Death
Karl Behr died of natural causes at his home on October 15, 1949. He was buried at the Evergreen Cemetery in Morristown, New JerseyMorristown, New Jersey
Morristown is a town in Morris County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 18,411. It is the county seat of Morris County. Morristown became characterized as "the military capital of the American Revolution" because of its strategic role in the...
. He was posthumously honored by the International Tennis Hall of Fame
International Tennis Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The hall of fame and honors players and contributors to the sport of tennis and includes a museum, grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a court tennis facility.-History:The hall of fame and...
in 1969.