Francis Beattie was born in Ireland but there is some dispute as to where. He gives his birthplace as Belfast on most records (although he gives his birthplace as Co Leitrim on the 1911 census) and also states his birthdate as 25 July 1875 and names his father as Rowland Beattie, a policeman. However, it appears that Francis was not born in Belfast but in Corbally, Co Tipperary on 12 February 1873. His father Rowland was indeed a policeman whilst his mother was the former Sarah Reddy. 

Francis’ birth record

He was married in St Anne’s Church, Belfast on 25 June 1905 to Annie Elizabeth Rice (b. circa 1882). Whilst residents of 56 Avon Street Francis and Annie welcomed a daughter, Annie Elizabeth, who was born on 15 February 1907. Unfortunately, however, Annie never recovered from childbirth and died less than a fortnight later on 26 February 1907 following an embolism; she was aged 25. Hard on the heels of this came the death of their daughter Annie who died aged only three months on 5 June 1907 as a result of pneumonia. 

Francis was remarried in St Anne’s Church on 29 June 1908 to widow Teresa Napier, née Watson; both were residents of Little Patrick Street at the time. Their daughter Mary Ellen was born on 6 April 1909 and was followed by further children over the following years. 

Beattie’s ship prior to Titanic had been the Olympic. He joined the Titanic at Belfast for the delivery trip to Southampton where he then disembarked.

Francis continued to work at sea and served with the Royal Naval Reserve, sailing the dangerous waters of WWI. His home remained in Belfast and he worked at sea until at least the early 1920s. His last address was 3 Ballyregan Road in Dundonald, Co Down where he died on 9 January 1943. His widow Teresa died in 1957 and they are buried together in Dundonald Cemetery (plot A2 307).