Figure 1.-- This is the Spedden family in a photograph taken November 1911. Douglas Spedden was an American boy who went every where with his parents. They were very wealthy and liked going on European tours. They travelled by ship to Europe and then travelled to lots of places by train. Notice his wonderful collection of period toys, including a white polar bear. Noitice all the transport toys. This photograph was taken on a hotel balcony on the island of Madeira. This mean that Douglas was allowed to bring all these toys with him on the family travels. They clearly traveled in style. Copyright: Leighton H. Coleman III all rights reserved, www.polarthetitanicbear.com"

Douglas Spedden was an American boy who went everywhere with his parents. They were very wealthy and liked going on European tours. They travelled by ship to Europe and then travelled to lots of places by train. Douglas was then a boy of 7 years. On one occasion they travelled to Paris on a night train. Douglas found this exciting and enjoyed travelling in a sleeping compartment where he had a bed and slept throughout the journey. When the holiday was over they caught the Paris to Cherbourg Boat train and boarded a ship and had an adventurous voyage back to America. Douglas wears a variety of fashionable clothes. The picture here shows Douglas dressed in fashionable clothes. He is dressed in a short panted white suit, full-length stockings, black boots and on his head is a hat. Douglas had a cowboy suit and commonly wore sailor suits. He also had heavy winter clothes. Unfortunately Douglas life was so short. He died aged 9 in a car accident in Maine. The book Polar: the Titanic Bear tells the story of Douglas and his Steiff-Polar teddy bear who took a journey on the Titanic together. Notice the white polar bear with Douglas in the picture. The bear was given him that year by his aunt when he was about to sail to Europe with his parents. Douglas departed America with his parents for Europe in September 1911. The family were in Paris during March 1912 and at the end of their tour they left on the Paris-Cherbourg Boat train. They boarded the Titanic. Four days later the Titanic on its Maiden voyage collided with an iceberg. The Spedden family were fortunate to all be rescued. Two years later while Douglas was playing football he chased after his ball which had gone onto the highway. Douglas did not look as he dashed out into the road. He was hit by a car and killed. He was the first road casualty in Maine! The family never recovered from his death.

Parents

Douglas Spedden was an American boy, the son of Frederic and Daisy Spedden a wealthy New York couple. Frederic was the heir to a banking fortune. Daisy was also rich. Her father made a fortune in shipping. They liked to travel and go on European tours. They took their son Douglas with them. He went everywhere with his parents.

Childhood

Douglas was born November 19, 1905. He appears to have had alovely childhood. His parents adored him and showered him with wonderful play things--including a white polar bear and toy trains and boats. Douglas had a nanny, Elizabeth Burns. He called her "Muddy Boons". like many young children, names are often difficult to pronounce.

Homes

They lived in Tuxedo Park New York. In the summer they had a home at Bar Harbour, Maine.

Education

I have few details on Douglas' education. He may have had a tudor when younger. By age 9 he is attending school. His mother at the end of the Polar the Titanic Bear book (in the vear's words, "Master (Douglas) goes to school now, and I am left alone much of the time. But I always look forward to the warm greeting he gives me on om his return."

Portrait

Douglas' parents about 1910 had a portrait painted of him. He looks to be about 4-5 years old. The pportrait would have been donr anout 1909. I'm not sure who he artist was, but he did a beautiful job. Douglas is wearing a white tunic suit with blue trim. He wears matching bloomer knickers with it and white long stockings. His hair is cut in bangs.

Travels

They travelled by ship to Europe and then travelled to lots of places by train. Douglas was then a boy of 7 years. On one occasion they travelled to Paris on a night train. Douglas found this exciting and enjoyed travelling in a sleeping compartment where he had a bed and slept throughout the journey. When the holiday was over they caught the Paris to Cherbourg Boat train and boarded a ship and had an adventurous voyage back to America. We know much about this boy from a book his mother wrote about him in 1913. The book is called Polar the Titanic Bear. The story is about Douglas and a Steiff Teddy Bear. Daisy wrote the book as a Christmas present for him. He read it on Christmas Day 1913. It is a story that tells use about Douglas. The narrator is the bear. It is a cuddle toy that Douglas was particularly fond of. The book tells the story of Douglas and his Steiff-Polar teddy bear who took a journey on the Titanic together. Notice the white polar bear with Douglas in the picture. The bear was given him that year by his aunt when he was about to sail to Europe with his parents. Douglas departed America with his parents for Europe in September 1911. The family were in Paris during March 1912 and at the end of their tour they left on the Paris-Cherbourg Boat train. They boarded the Titanic. Four days later the Titanic on its Maiden voyage collided with an iceberg. The Spedden family were fortunate to all be rescued. the story in the book is "told" by polar the bear. Originally Daisy Spedden wrote this story and gave it as present to Douglas in 1913."

Clothes

Douglas wears a variety of fashionable clothes. The picture here shows Douglas dressed in fashionable clothes. A a younger boy, Douglas is dressed in a short panted white suit, presumably a tunic uit, full-length stockings, black boots and on his head is a hat (figure 1). Douglas had a cowboy suit and commonly wore sailor suits. Other images show him wearing knicker suits. He also had heavy winter clothes. There is additional information about Douglas in the book Polar-The Titanic Bear, these show Douglas holding his Teddy bear in one hand and in the other is a round ball. It was photographed at Christmas 1912. He appears to either have come inside or is about to go outside because he is wearing boots, stockings, knickerbockers, an overcoat and a cap.

Tragic Death

Unfortunately Douglas life was so short. He died aged 9 in a car accident in Maine on August 6, 1915. Age 9 Douglas in 1915, only 2 years after their narrow escape from the Titanic, while playing football, Douglas chased after his ball which had gone onto the highway. He did not look as he dashed out into the road. A portrait of Douglas wearing knickers with a football was taken at about the time that he was killed. The portrait was taken at about Christmas as there is a small Chrstmas tree in the photograph. Douglas was hit by a car and killed. He was the first road casualty in Maine! How very sad for a family that survived the Titanic disaster. The family never recovered from his death.

Sources

Father Browne Titanic Scrapbook by Fr. Eddie O’Donnell.

Coleman, Leighton H. E-mail message, July 18, 2003.

Spedden, Daisy Corning Stone. Polar: the Titanic Bear. (Little, Brown and Company, 1994) ISBN70316806250.

Encyclopaedia Titanica: First Class Passenger: Robert Douglas Spedden, accessed June 19, 2003

Created: June 17, 2003
Last updated: July 18, 2003