Matthew Orr Gibson
| Rank | Civilian |  |
| Medals | None | |
| Regiment | None | |
| Military Service | None | |
| Born | 31 August 1866, Anderston, Glasgow | |
| Death | 7th May 1915 | |
| Circumstances of Death | Drowned in the sinking of RMS Lusitania  RMS Lusitania in 1907
In 1915 Gibson arrived in New York on 4 February aboard RMS Adriatic on one of his regular visits and planned to return to the UK on 1 May on SS Cameronia. Unfortunately for him the British government requisitioned the Cameronia a few hours before she was due to sail and her passengers were transferred to RMS Lusitania which delayed that ship’s departure by 2 ½ hours. Gibson was travelling first class and was given cabin B2 on the promenade deck. At 2:10pm on the 7 May off the Old Head of Kinsale, the German submarine U-20 successfully fired one torpedo at the Lusitania as she passed unknowingly across the submarine’s bows. The Lusitania sank eighteen minutes later with the loss of 1192 lives. 768 persons survived – Matthew Orr Gibson was not among them.
| |
| Age | 48 | |
| Memorial | Lost on RMS Lusitania A memorial service for Matthew O Gibson was held in Hillhead Baptist Church on Saturday 15th May. It was conducted by the minister of the church and that of Lansdowne United Free Church. | |
| CWGC Information | None | |
| Parents | Thomas B Gibson (c1832-1897) and Jane R Orr (c1838-1929) | |
| Father's Occupation | Manufacturer of cotton fabrics | |
| Siblings | Jessie (1859-1920), Lizzie (1861-1945), Jane (1863-), Isabella (1864-), Evelyn (1868-1925), Charles (1869-1931), Josephine (1871-), Thomas (1873-), Ada (c1875-), Arthur (c1877-1956), Harrison (c1878-)  Matthew O Gibson (centre back row) with his parents and siblings c1880 by permission of Alan Gibson | |
| Spouse | Unmarried | |
| Education | Not known | |
| Occupation | Textile Manufacturer. Matthew and his brother Charles traded as Gibson Brothers & Co., curtain manufacturers and embroiderers of St Mirrin’s Mills, Cogan Street, Pollokshaws. The firm, under the name of Gibson Brothers (Glasgow) Limited, went into voluntary liquidation in 1929. | |
| 1871 Census | 3 Florentine Place, Hillhead Street, Govan | |
| 1881 Census | 3 Florentine Place, Hillhead Street, Govan | |
| 1891 Census | Florentine Gardens,Govan | |
| 1901 Census | Not found. (Widowed mother living at 26 Cecil Street, Partick) | |
| 1911 Census | Not found | |
| Home Address | 1915 – 26 Sardinia Terrace, Hillhead | |
| Glasgow Necropolis | Compartment Epsilon Lair 528 | |
| Other Information | Between 1905 and 1915 Gibson crossed the Atlantic at least 6 times. He seems to have been making regular business trips of about 4 months every second year from 1905. He tended to cross to New York in either January or February and return in the early summer. He continued this pattern in 1915 even though the UK was at war. Gibson’s will was dated 18 June 1909. He left an estate of £7707 4s 10d | |
| Acknowledgements and Sources | Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below. The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to Alan Gibson, Ancestry (www.ancestry.co.uk), Findmypast (www.findmypast.co.uk), Family Search – www.familysearch.org The Long, Long Trail – http://www.1914-1918.net/ The Lusitania Resource – http://www.rmslusitania.info/ Scotlands People – www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk The Scottish War Memorials Project – www.warmemscot.s4.bizhat.com | |
Gallery
Matthew Orr Gibson Monument
Credits
Compiled by Morag Fyfe, Historical and Genealogical Researcher for The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis.
