Reginald Lee

Reginald Robinson Lee (May 19^th, 1870 – August 6^th, 1913) was a lookout stationed in the crow's nest of the RMS Titanic when the ship collided with an iceberg at 11:40 p.m. on April 14, 1912.

Biography

Born in Benson, England, Lee joined the Titanic's crew on April 6^th, 1912; having been transferred from its sister ship, RMS Olympic. On April 14^th, Lee joined lookout Frederick Fleet in the crow's nest beginning at 10 p.m. The binoculars the two were supposed to use were not on board, forcing the lookouts to use their own eyesight. Lee was ordered to man lifeboat 13, which was launched from the starboard side of Titanic at 1:43 A.M. As a result, Lee survived the sinking, just like Fleet who was put in lifeboat 6.

Lee testified before the Board of Trade Inquiry into the disaster, but died shortly thereafter from complications caused by pneumonia. At that time he was on board the Kenilworth Castle, on August 6^th, 1913.

Portrayals

Titanic (1953)

Lookout Symons, based off Reginald Lee in Titanic (1953)

Strangely, Lee's role as a lookout is replaced by an fictional Lookout named Symons, which was portrayed by Lee Graham.

A Night to Remember (1958 film)

Reginald Lee in A Night to Remember (1958)

In A Night to Remember, Lee was portrayed by Roger Avon.

S.O.S. Titanic (1979)

Reginald Lee in S.O.S. Titanic (1979)

In S.O.S. Titanic, Lee was portrayed by Kevin O'Shea. During the lowering of Lifeboat 13, he ask Lawrence Beesley to jump into it because there still more room in the lifeboat.

1996 Miniseries Titanic

Reginald Lee in the 1996 Miniseries Titanic

In the 1996 Miniseries Titanic, Lee was portrayed by Aaron Pearl.

1997 Film Titanic

Reginald Lee in the 1997 Film Titanic

In the 1997 Film Titanic, Lee was portrayed by Martin East. He's later seen trying to cut the falls of Lifeboat 13 with Frederick Barrett as Lifeboat 15 coming down towards them.

Titanic: The Legend Goes On

Reginald Lee in Titanic The Legend Goes On (2000)