Samuel McMillen was born at 9 Annette Street in Belfast, Ireland on 28 September 1883.¹ Hailing from a Church of Ireland family, he was the son of Thomas McMillen, a marine fireman, and Maria Croskery and was one of their eleven children. 

The 1911 census shows Samuel and his family residing at 5 Shipboy Street in north Belfast and he, like his father, was described as a marine fireman. 

McMillen’s ship prior to Titanic had been the Black Head. He joined Titanic at Belfast for the delivery trip to Southampton where he then disembarked. Also serving aboard for the delivery trip was his elder brother William McMillen.

Samuel continued to serve with the merchant fleet throughout WWI and was married in July 1930 to Roseanna McMillen. He remained in Belfast and died there on 6 December 1973 aged 90.