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Margaret "Molly" Brown (nee Tobin, July 18, 1867 – October 26, 1932) was an American socialite, philanthropist, and activist who became famous because of her survival of the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic. Her parents were immigrants from Ireland; Molly was born in Hannibal, Missouri. She had three brothers, one sister and two half-sisters from her parents' previous marriages - both had been widowed young. Even though Molly had decided to marry for money, she fell in love with another Irishman, James Joseph (J.J.) Brown, and decided she'd rather be with a poor man she loved than with one she had married for money. They were married in Leadville's Annunciation Church on September 1, 1886, and had two children. The Brown family acquired great wealth when in 1893 J.J.'s mining engineering efforts proved instrumental in the production of a substantial ore seam at the Little Jonny Mine of his employers, Ibex Mining Company, and he was awarded 12.500 shares of stock and a seat on the board. Their newfound wealth opened up more opportunities in society, and Molly became a charter member of the Denver Women's Club, whose mission was the improvement of women's lives by continuing education and philanthropy. Adjusting to the trappings of a society lady, Brown became well-immersed in the arts and fluent in French, German, Italian, and Russian. Brown co-founded a branch in Denver of the Alliance Française to promote her love of French culture. After 23 years of marriage, Margaret and J.J. privately signed a separation agreement in 1909. Although they never reconciled, they continued to communicate and cared for each other throughout their lives. Brown assisted in the fund-raising for Denver's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception which was completed in 1911. She worked with Judge Ben Lindsey to help destitute children and establish the United States' first juvenile court which helped form the basis of the modern U.S. juvenile courts system. Brown ran for Senate in 1914 but ended her campaign to return to France to work with the American Committee for Devastated France during WWI. Brown was conveyed to the RMS Titanic as a first class passenger at Cherbourg, France. The Titanic sank early on April 15, 1912, at around 2:20 a.m. after striking an iceberg at around 11:40 the night before. Brown helped others board the lifeboats, but was finally persuaded to leave the ship in Lifeboat No. 6. Brown was later called "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" by authors because she helped in the ship's evacuation, taking an oar herself in her lifeboat and urging that the lifeboat go back and save more people. Her urgings were met with opposition from Quartermaster Robert Hichens, the crewman in charge of Lifeboat 6. Hichens was fearful that if they went back, the lifeboat would either be pulled down due to suction or the people in the water would swamp the boat in an effort to get inside. Sources vary as to whether the boat went back and if they found anyone alive if they did. Molly's fame as a well-known Titanic survivor helped her promote the issues she felt strongly about — the rights of workers and women, education and literacy for children, historic preservation, and commemoration of the bravery and chivalry displayed by the men aboard the Titanic. During World War I in France, she worked with the American Committee for Devastated France to rebuild areas behind the front line and helped wounded French and American soldiers. She was awarded the French Légion d'Honneur for her good citizenship including her activism and philanthropy in America. During the last years of her life, she was an actress.

Description
Margaret "Molly" Brown (nee Tobin, July 18, 1867 – October 26, 1932) was an American socialite, philanthropist, and activist who became famous because of her survival of the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic. Her parents were immigrants from Ireland; Molly was born in Hannibal, Missouri. She had three brothers, one sister and two half-sisters from her parents' previous marriages - both had been widowed young. Even though Molly had decided to marry for money, she fell in love with another Irishman, James Joseph (J.J.) Brown, and decided she'd rather be with a poor man she loved than with one she had married for money. They were married in Leadville's Annunciation Church on September 1, 1886, and had two children. The Brown family acquired great wealth when in 1893 J.J.'s mining engineering efforts proved instrumental in the production of a substantial ore seam at the Little Jonny Mine of his employers, Ibex Mining Company, and he was awarded 12.500 shares of stock and a seat on the board. Their newfound wealth opened up more opportunities in society, and Molly became a charter member of the Denver Women's Club, whose mission was the improvement of women's lives by continuing education and philanthropy. Adjusting to the trappings of a society lady, Brown became well-immersed in the arts and fluent in French, German, Italian, and Russian. Brown co-founded a branch in Denver of the Alliance Française to promote her love of French culture. After 23 years of marriage, Margaret and J.J. privately signed a separation agreement in 1909. Although they never reconciled, they continued to communicate and cared for each other throughout their lives. Brown assisted in the fund-raising for Denver's Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception which was completed in 1911. She worked with Judge Ben Lindsey to help destitute children and establish the United States' first juvenile court which helped form the basis of the modern U.S. juvenile courts system. Brown ran for Senate in 1914 but ended her campaign to return to France to work with the American Committee for Devastated France during WWI. Brown was conveyed to the RMS Titanic as a first class passenger at Cherbourg, France. The Titanic sank early on April 15, 1912, at around 2:20 a.m. after striking an iceberg at around 11:40 the night before. Brown helped others board the lifeboats, but was finally persuaded to leave the ship in Lifeboat No. 6. Brown was later called "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" by authors because she helped in the ship's evacuation, taking an oar herself in her lifeboat and urging that the lifeboat go back and save more people. Her urgings were met with opposition from Quartermaster Robert Hichens, the crewman in charge of Lifeboat 6. Hichens was fearful that if they went back, the lifeboat would either be pulled down due to suction or the people in the water would swamp the boat in an effort to get inside. Sources vary as to whether the boat went back and if they found anyone alive if they did. Molly's fame as a well-known Titanic survivor helped her promote the issues she felt strongly about — the rights of workers and women, education and literacy for children, historic preservation, and commemoration of the bravery and chivalry displayed by the men aboard the Titanic. During World War I in France, she worked with the American Committee for Devastated France to rebuild areas behind the front line and helped wounded French and American soldiers. She was awarded the French Légion d'Honneur for her good citizenship including her activism and philanthropy in America. During the last years of her life, she was an actress.