John Hannan was born in County Cork, Ireland, on the 26th February 1850, the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Hannan. Nothing is known of his family or origins, but he decided on a career on the high seas, joining the Mercantile Marine and rising to become an able-bodied seaman. It is not known when he moved to Liverpool, Lancashire, England, but no doubt he did so due to the work opportunities it presented to him.
On the 21st July 1894, he married Margaret O’Hanlon (née Fearon), who was a widow, and they had six children; however, only one, Isabella, survived to adulthood. By 1915, the family were residing at 4. Albert Terrace, Rathbone Street, Liverpool, Lancashire.
He served on board the Lusitania as an able seaman in the Deck Department on her final voyage, which departed from Pier 54 in New York on 1st May 1915. Six days later, on afternoon of the 7th May, the great Cunarder was sunk by a torpedo discharged from the German submarine U-20, within sight of the Old Head of Kinsale in southern Ireland.
John Hannan was fortunate enough to survive the action and having been rescued from the sea and landed at Queenstown, in his native county of Cork, he managed to make his way to his wife and daughter in Liverpool. He was aged 65 years at the time.
A report in the Irish Times on 10th May 1915, which incorrectly reported his name to be John Harman, states: -
…said he was on deck, and he saw the torpedo coming through the water to the Lusitania. He had hardly realised what it was when the explosion occurred. He went to the boats, and was one of those who helped to launch boat No. 15.
By 1921, the family resided at 3. St. Ann’s Terrace, Rice Street, Liverpool, and John Hannan was still serving on Cunard vessels. He kept working until at least 1924.
John Hannan died on the 11th January 1935 at St. Vincent’s Hospice, Old Swan, Liverpool, aged 84 years. His home address at that time was 20. Aldwark Road, Huyton, Liverpool, which was the home of his daughter, who was married to John H. Boulger. He was buried four days later in Ford Cemetery, Public Section S.V, Grave W.D. 507, beside his wife, who died in October 1930.
Register of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Liverpool England Catholic Marriages 1754 – 1933, Liverpool England Catholic Burials 1813 – 1988, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, 1921 Census of England, 1939 Register, Liverpool England Crew Lists 1861 – 1919, New York Passenger Lists 1820 – 1957, Cunard Records, Irish Times, Liverpool Echo, PRO BT 100/345, PRO BT 351/1/57549, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 31st December 2023.