Walter Lord facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Walter Lord
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Lord in 1958
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| Born | John Walter Lord Jr. October 8, 1917 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Died | May 19, 2002 (aged 84) Manhattan, New York, U.S. |
| Resting place | Green Mount Cemetery, Baltimore, Maryland |
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | Princeton University (AB) Yale University (LLB) |
| Period | 1952–1986 |
| Genre | Narrative history |
| Notable awards | Francis Parkman Prize for Special Achievement (1994) |
John Walter Lord Jr. (born October 8, 1917 – died May 19, 2002) was an American author and historian. He was best known for his 1955 book, A Night to Remember. This book tells the story of the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
Contents
Walter Lord's Life
Early Years
Walter Lord was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on October 8, 1917. His father, John Walter Lord Sr., was a lawyer. Sadly, his father passed away when Walter was only three years old. His grandfather, Richard Curzon Hoffman, was in charge of a steamship company called the "Old Bay Line" in the 1890s.
When Walter was seven, in July 1925, he traveled across the Atlantic Ocean. He went with his mother and sister from New York to Europe. They sailed on the RMS Olympic, which was the Titanic's sister ship.
Walter went to high school at Baltimore's Gilman School. During summers, he enjoyed camp at Hyde Bay Camp for Boys in Cooperstown, New York. He was even given the fun title of "The Commodore" there.
Education and War Service
After high school, Walter studied history at Princeton University and finished in 1939. He then started studying law at Yale Law School. However, his studies were paused when World War II began. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he joined the United States Army.
During the war, he worked for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) in London, starting in 1942. The OSS was a special agency that gathered information. Walter was a code clerk, helping with secret messages. He was part of the agency's main office when the war ended in 1945. After the war, he went back to Yale and earned his law degree.
In 1950, Walter Lord even wrote lyrics for a popular song. It was called "The Third Man Theme" from a movie. You can hear a version of the song here: Victor Young's rendition.
Writing Career
Walter Lord became a very successful writer. He wrote or helped publish 11 bestselling books. His books covered many different historical events.
Some of his famous books include:
- Day of Infamy (1957), about the Attack on Pearl Harbor.
- Incredible Victory (1967), about the Battle of Midway.
- A Time to Stand (1961), about the Battle of the Alamo.
- The Dawn's Early Light (1972), about the Battle of Baltimore.
- The Miracle of Dunkirk (1982), about the Dunkirk evacuation.
Before his most famous book, Walter Lord worked in advertising in New York City. In 1954, he published The Fremantle Diary. This book was based on the writings of a British officer who traveled through the American South during the Civil War. It was a small success.
His most famous book, A Night to Remember, came out in 1955. It quickly became a bestseller. This book was so popular that it was made into a British movie in 1958. For the book, Walter Lord found and interviewed 63 people who survived the Titanic sinking. He wrote a detailed, minute-by-minute story of the ship's last hours.
Walter Lord was known for his deep knowledge of the Titanic disaster. He often gave talks to the Titanic Historical Society. In 1986, he wrote another book about the Titanic, called The Night Lives On. This book came out a year after the actual wreck of the Titanic was found. The discovery made people interested in the Titanic again.
Later, Walter Lord even worked as a helper for director James Cameron. This was when Cameron was making his famous movie Titanic (1997). The documentary Ghosts of the Abyss (2003), which was a follow-up to Cameron's film, was dedicated to Walter Lord.
In 2009, a book about Walter Lord's life was published. It was called The Way It Was: Walter Lord on His Life and Books. This book was based on many hours of interviews Walter Lord had given about his life and writing.
Later Life and Legacy
Walter Lord passed away on May 19, 2002, at the age of 84. He had been suffering from Parkinson's disease. He died at his home in Manhattan.
The famous historian David McCullough spoke about Walter Lord after his death. He said, "He was one of the most generous and kind-hearted men I've ever known." McCullough also mentioned that Walter Lord was a great help to him when he wanted to become a writer.
Walter Lord is buried in his family's plot at Green Mount Cemetery in Baltimore. His grave is marked by a marble bench that lists all the books he wrote.
