Edward R. Blanchard

Edward R. Blanchard is well known in Detroit in his connection with the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association, which has no more enthusiastic member or one who has done more for the general interest of the association and the special interest of No. 3, of which he is now treasurer. He became a member twelve years ago and has filled the offices of doorkeeper, chaplain, secretary, vice-president, etc., and for the last four years has been a representative in the national meeting at Washington.

Mr. Blanchard was born in Southampton, England, October 12, 1851, son of Alfred and Frances (Wright) Blanchard, the former of whom was a well-known yacht builder there. His oldest brother, Alfred, Jr., was a yachtsman and was drowned off a yacht near Southampton some years ago. His brother George is the master of a large yacht which has been in the Mediterranean since early in 1896. The other brother, William, is in business in London, England, and is the only one of the family not connected with marine interests. Edward was in the yachting business out of Southampton as a young man, and left his native country for America in 1873, coming direct to Detroit, where he obtained employment as assistant engineer of the tug L.L. Lyon. The season of 1874 he spent as second engineer of the William A. Moore, and in 1875 he held the same position on the William Goodnow. In 1876 he returned to England in hope of benefiting the health of his wife, and he was again connected with English yachts until 1882, when he returned to Detroit; on account of his wife's health, however, he did not go on the lakes until the season of 1883, when he became engineer of the George A. Marsh, the tender for the Detroit river lighthouse during the building of the latter. He held the same position in 1884, and in 1885 he accepted from Hiram Walker & Sons the position of chief engineer of their fine yacht Pastime, giving such excellent satisfaction that he has been retained on her continuously since.

On December 12, 1874, in Detroit, Mr. Blanchard wedded Miss Emma Wright, an English girl, and they have had ten children, of whom three only are now living: Alfred E. (who is on the lakes). Ernest W. and Gertrude. Mr. Blanchard also holds membership with the A.O.U.W. in fraternal connection.

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Volume I

This version of Volume II is based, with permission, on the work of the great volunteers at the Marine Captains Biographies site. To them goes the credit for reorganizing the content into some coherent order. The biographies in the original volume are in essentially random order.

Some of the transcription work was also done by Brendon Baillod, who maintains an excellent guide to Great Lakes Shipwreck Research.