Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche was born in Cap Haitien on 26 May 1886. He father was Pierre Jean Baptiste Raoul Auguste (1855–1908) and Anne Euzélie Laroche (1862–1952).

At the age of 15 he left Haiti and traveled to Beauvais, France to study engineering. While visiting the nearby town of Villejuif, Joseph met Julliette Lafargue, a white French woman. After he gained his engineering degree, the two were married on 18 March 1908. Their first child Simmone 19 February 1909 (3rd photo). Their second daughter Louise, was born prematurely on 2 July 1910, and suffered many subsequent medical problems.Due to racial discrimination, it was difficult for him to find work

Racial discrimination prevented Joseph Laroche from obtaining a high-paying job in France, despite his education. Since the family needed more money to cope with Louise's medical bills, Joseph decided to return to Haiti to find a better-paying engineering job, the move was planned for 1913.  In 1911 his mother's brother-in-law (Cincinnatus Leconte, the husband of her sister Reine-Joséphine Laroche) had become president of Haiti after a coup. It has been speculated that Leconte had promised Joseph a job if he moved back to Haiti.

In March 1912, however, Juliette discovered that she was pregnant again, so she and Joseph decided to leave for Haiti before her pregnancy became too far advanced for travel. Joseph's mother in Haiti bought them steamship tickets on the *La France* as a welcome present, but the line's strict policy regarding children caused them to transfer their booking to the *Titanic*'s second class ($6,662 in todays USD), ticket number 2123. On April 10 the Laroche family took the train from Paris to Cherbourg in order to board the brand new liner later that evening. The train ride was probably the girls' first time being on one.

In the same train carriage they met the Mallet Family (they had two sons), who were also going to board the Titanic, also on a 2nd class ticket, as they were emigrating to Montreal. They spoke to each other and wondered if there would be other French folks on the ship. By the time the train reached the station, the two families were friends.

On that fateful night, a steward had come to their cabin and told them to wear their lifejackets, Titanic had suffered an accident. Joseph put everything valuable, money and jewels, in his pockets. Unable to understand, Juliette let Joseph, who spoke English fluently, lead the family to the lifeboats. Although Joseph was lost to sea, he saved his family.

His wife and two kids most likely boarded and rescued from lifeboat 10 ([according to her interview with *Le Matin*](https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/une-rescapee-du-titanic.html)), along with Mrs. Mallet and her son, by the *Carpathia*. The surviving family were treated for hypothermia. They arrived to NYC on April 18. The trauma of the disaster and losing her husband and belongings made her cancel continuing to Haiti. They returned to Villejuif. A month later, Juliette gave birth to her son...Joseph.

* [Juliette](https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivor/juliette-laroche.html) died at age 91 on January 10, 1980. On her grave a plaque is engraved: "Juliette Laroche 1889-1980, wife of Joseph Laroche, lost at sea on RMS Titanic, April 15th 1912."
* Louise died on [Wednesday 28th January 1998](https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-dates/md-0128.html) aged 87 years
* Simonne died on [Wednesday 8th August 1973](https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-dates/md-0808.html) aged 64 years

Sources: [(1)](https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/joseph-laroche.html) [(2)](https://web.archive.org/web/20130518193720/http://www.titanichistoricalsociety.org/people/louise-laroche.asp)

Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche | The Only Black Man on RMS Titanic