Mark Chirnside

Mark Chirnside is one of the most rigorous and productive maritime historians of his generation — a specialist in the Olympic-class liners whose published works have become standard references in the field. Based in Leamington Spa, he spent a decade researching the history of White Star Line's famous trio before publishing what is now considered the definitive history of RMS Olympic.

His book RMS Olympic: Titanic's Sister was described by reviewers as "an instant classic" and "the most painstaking maritime study ever performed on the Titanic's sister." Chirnside has a particular gift for correcting misconceptions: his work has challenged conspiracy theories, refuted inaccurate statistics, and returned the historical record to the documentary evidence.

Beyond Olympic, his bibliography covers RMS Aquitania, the Big Four of White Star (Celtic, Cedric, Baltic and Adriatic), HMHS Britannic, RMS Majestic, and RMMV Oceanic. He is a regular contributor to Encyclopedia Titanica, where his articles address some of the most contested questions in Titanic scholarship. His website, Mark Chirnside's Reception Room, is a widely respected resource for the maritime history community.