John P. Eaton

John P. Eaton was one of the world's foremost authorities on RMS Titanic — a historian, author, and lecturer whose meticulous research shaped how the disaster is understood today. Born and raised in Easton, Pennsylvania, and educated at Lafayette College, he devoted decades of his life to uncovering, verifying, and sharing the story of the great ship.

Together with Charles A. Haas, his lifelong collaborator, Eaton co-founded the Titanic International Society in 1989 — one of the most respected maritime history organizations in the world. The pair went on to co-author five essential volumes on Titanic, including the landmark Titanic: Triumph and Tragedy, widely regarded as the definitive single-volume history of the ship.

Eaton and Haas are the only historians ever to have participated in three separate expeditions to the Titanic wreck site, making perilous dives to 12,500 feet beneath the Atlantic. Their firsthand accounts and photographs enriched editions of their books and brought the reality of the wreck to readers worldwide. He appeared in numerous television documentaries, lectured extensively, and served as a consultant to many Titanic-related projects. John P. Eaton died in 2021 at the age of 94.