Annie Robinson

Elizabeth Annie Grierson-Kerswell (; 27 February 1865 – 9 October 1914), better known under the name Annie Robinson, was a British woman who was a stewardess aboard the RMS Titanic during its ill-fated maiden voyage. Robinson was one of only two female members of crew who was called to testify at either inquiry. She died in 1914 after jumping off a ship.

Early life Robinson was born in Bedford, England, the oldest child of Charles Simeon Franklin and Elizabeth Ann Franklin (née Chew). She had two sisters: Mary and Sarah, and a brother Charles.

On 29 August 1885, Annie married Tom Snell Grierson-Kerswell, an accountant, at the Parish Church in Liverpool. The couple had two daughters, Gladys Anne and Dorothy Albyne. The marriage broke down at some point and Tom emigrated to the United States in 1895, eventually settling in Pennsylvania. At some point, afterwards, she adopted the name "Annie Robinson" and presented herself as a "widow."

Her last ship before the Titanic was the SS Lake Manitoba.

RMS Titanic Robinson signed on to the on 6 April 1912 as a first class stewardess; she gave her address as 128 Shirley Road, Southampton. Though 47 at the time, she listed her age as being 40. During the voyage, she was tasked with caring for seven ladies, a maid, and a governess.

At the British Inquiry into the sinking, Robinson was called to testify on Day 11. At the inquiry, she stated she saw one of the postal clerks pass by her and return with Chief Purser Hugh McElroy and Captain Edward Smith, and later ship designer Thomas Andrews. She also noticed the ship's carpenter go by looking "bewildered, distracted", which prompted her to head to E-deck to check on the mail room half an hour after the fatal collision with the iceberg. According to her, "I saw two mail-bags and a man's Gladstone bag, and on looking down the staircase I saw water within six steps of coming on to E deck." However, Robinson was noted to have been reluctant to talk about her experience, reportedly telling the King, "It is the sort of thing one doesn't like to talk much about afterward. It was too terrible."

Death On 9 October 1914, Robinson was aboard the , travelling to Boston to visit her daughter Gladys. As the ship travelled through thick fog Robinson reportedly became very anxious. At some point at night, she likely jumped from the deck. Newspaper reports of her disappearance stated:

After lookout Reginald Lee, Robinson was the second surviving crew member of the Titanic and the first female crew member to die.