It's been more than a century since that fateful night when an iceberg ripped into the side of what was thought to be the world's "unsinkable ship," the Titanic .

On April 10, 1912, the famed British ocean liner set sail on its maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City. On April 14, the grand ship met its fate, sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

The tragedy claimed over 1,500 lives out of the 2,200 crew members and passengers on board, including a Cincinnati salesman who brought three living white whales, or belugas, to the Queen City in 1877.

Bringing whales to Cincinnati

The whale was destined for the Lookout House on Jackson Hill Park next door to the Mount Auburn Incline. Most of the city's inclines were coupled with resorts that offered entertainment and drinks to attract passengers and entice them to spend money, and what's more enticing than seeing a live whale in Cincinnati?

Stewart's plan tragically failed, with the first whale dying en route to Cincinnati. While the second whale made it to the city's spectators, the animal also died after three days.

The third and final whale arrived in Cincinnati on July 1. Newspaper accounts described her as eight feet in length, weighing about 600 pounds.

More than 25,000 onlookers came to see the whale over the next few days, but when a thunderstorm erupted on July 5, the whale became frightened. "She scooted, dived and threshed around the tank like one possessed of a restless devil,” The Enquirer wrote.

The whale had settled down and swam for a bit the next day, but she eventually sank to the bottom of the tank and died, putting an end to Stewart's dream of having whales in Cincinnati.

Stewart had a 'successful' career in Cincinnati before boarding the Titanic

Stewart followed his disappointment with a successful career as a sales manager for the Strobridge Lithographing Co.

Strobridge Lithography Co., founded in 1847, was most famous for its circus posters, often producing them for The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey. Stewart helped the company become the premier printers of the posters.

The company had offices in downtown Cincinnati, Norwood and even New York City. By the late 19th century, the city had become the "third largest printing center in the country," according to the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Due to his successful career, Stewart moved to New York as a wealthy man and part owner of the Barnum and Bailey Circus. But all his successes could not save him from being lost at sea.

As a representative for his lithography company, Stewart made dozens of trips abroad, oftentimes traveling first class. Having vacationed in Paris with his wife, the businessman headed back to New York in April 1912 aboard the RMS Titanic. Stewart boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg, France, while his wife, Florence, remained in Italy.

John Zaller, the executive producer of Exhibition Hub's Titanic: An Immerseive Voyage, which came to Cincinnati this spring, told The Enquirer that Stewart actually moved his Paris trip around so he could sail on the Titanic, which was a common theme among passengers. Sadly, he died with the ship despite his efforts to help others during the chaos.

"He's the example of the rule of the sea: women and children first," Zaller explained. "The chivalry of the era, where he just stepped back and acted reassured, telling other younger children and some women that he knew, 'Don't you worry about a thing, I'll be in the next boat,' knowing there were no more lifeboats."

After getting his friends to a lifeboat, Stewart was last seen going back inside the ship. According to the Titanic exhibit, Stewart's last words were heard by Titanic survivor Helen Bishop: "You four kiddies stay together and get in the first lifeboat. I'll be right back here."

In a special dispatch to The Enquirer, it said Stewart's name was among first-class cabin passengers, but no mention of him was made among those who were saved.

"There seems to be no doubt that Albert A. Stewart, formerly of Cincinnati, was lost on the Titanic," The Enquirer later wrote.

The Enquirer described him as a "large, handsome man with an inexhaustible supply of good humor, a capital storyteller and tireless worker."

Stewart's widow and family returned to the U.S. a few weeks later, and his estate, valued at $276,974 (which is equivalent to $9 million today ), reflects his considerable wealth and influence. A marker in Gallipolis, Ohio, commemorates his legacy, connecting Cincinnati to the Titanic.

Other Cincinnatians that experienced the Titanic tragedy

Aside from Stewart, there were at least eight other Cincinnatians reportedly aboard (or involved with) the Titantic.

Sources: Enquirer archives and Encyclopedia Titanica .