Which lifeboat was the first to be launched from Titanic?

Lifeboat 7 was the first lifeboat launched from Titanic. The starboard-side boat was lowered at approximately 12:45 a.m., about an hour after the iceberg collision, under the supervision of First Officer William Murdoch with assistance from Fifth Officer Harold Lowe.

Lifeboat 7 had room for about 65 people but left the ship with only an estimated 28 aboard. Many passengers were reluctant to enter because Titanic still appeared stable, and stepping into a small boat suspended high above the dark, freezing sea felt dangerous. The boat was lowered without its plug, so water initially leaked into the bottom.

The next wooden lifeboat launched was No. 6, from the port side, at about 12:55 a.m. Lifeboat 8 was the first port-side boat, while Emergency Lifeboat 1 was the first of Titanic’s smaller cutters. These distinctions explain why No. 7 is sometimes confused with other early launches.

After Titanic sank, occupants of Lifeboat 7 were rescued by RMS Carpathia. The boat’s early launch also made it one of the best-documented parts of the evacuation, with survivors including actress Dorothy Gibson and lookout Archie Jewell.