Mr Henry Starkey was born in Belfast, Ireland sometime around 1864.¹ He hailed from a Roman Catholic family and was the son of Henry Starkey, a mariner.

Starkey appears on shipping records as early as February 1886 when he was serving as an able seaman aboard the Canadian-registered ship Sarah. By 1903 he was an able seaman aboard the Orita. 

With an address at 23 Market Street, Belfast, Starkey was married in St Malachy’s Church in that city on 24 April 1908 to widow and factory worker Margaret Lavery, née Lee (b. circa 1866). The couple appeared on the 1911 census living at 60 Stanfield Street in south Belfast, Henry being described as a sailor. 

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

Henry Starkey died in Belfast on 29 January 1939, his resting place unknown.