James McCormick is believed to have been born in County Cork, Ireland, in or around 1863, although no record of this can be found. His parents were Edward, who worked as an excavator, and Sarah McCormick. He had at least one sibling, a younger brother named Edward.
Nothing further is known of his family or life except that in the 1860’s, while he was still a child, his family moved to Liverpool, Lancashire, England, and that on completing his education, he joined the Mercantile Marine as a fireman on steam ships operating from the port of Liverpool.
He resided at 70. Henley Street, Seaforth, Liverpool, for many years with his widowed mother, his father having possibly died around 1873, but later resided at 70. Greig Street, Liverpool.
He engaged as a fireman in the Engineering Department on board the Lusitania, at Liverpool, on the 12th April 1915, at a monthly rate of pay of £6-10s.-0d. (£6.50p.) and was killed when she was sunk. He was aged 53 years, although his age is recorded as being 47 years in official records.
His body was not recovered and identified after the sinking and consequently, he is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
Probate of his will was granted to a Mrs. Ellen Beckett at Liverpool, on the 24th November 1915. His estate amounted to £5. James McCormick’s address was stated to have been at 70. Gray Street, Bootle, Liverpool, and an Ellen Beckett was listed in the 1921 Census of England as residing at 41. Gray Street, Bootle, Liverpool. It is not known what relationship there was between James McCormick and Ellen Beckett.
1871 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, Liverpool England Crew Lists 1861 – 1919, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Grave Commission, Probate Records, PRO BT 334, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.
Revised & Updated – 1st December 2024.