Samuel McGaw¹ was born at 32 New Street in Belfast, Ireland on 6 July 1877². Hailing from a Presbyterian family, he was the son of James McGaw, a flax dresser, and Ann Jane Phillips. 

On 4 January 1902, described as a sailor and in Belfast’s Agnes Street church, Samuel was married to Mary Elizabeth Coffey (b. 18 September 1879), a native of Portavogie, Co Down. By 1911 they had three sons and were living at 8 Hanna Street in north Belfast.

Prior to Titanic he served aboard the Olympic. He joined Titanic at Belfast for the delivery trip to Southampton where he then disembarked.

Samuel McGaw went on to be a veteran of both World Wars and was decorated for his service in both. He remained in Belfast where he spent his final years living at 9 Baltic Street. He died aged 83 on 9 February 1961 and was buried in Dundonald Cemetery (plot F5 177).