Francis Mangan was born in Dublin in 1862, with the family living at Guild Street, North Wall. In 1887, he married Mary Anne Mackey in St. Lawrence O’Toole’s Church, Seville Place. They had three children, John (1889), Richard (1890) and Cornelius (1895).
Frank took to the seas at an early age, and down through the years his occupation was listed as Sailor or Fireman. A Fireman (or Stoker) was an important position – in addition to fuelling the fire to run the steam engine, he had to maintain it and ensure the vessel was not put at risk. Interestingly, in the 1911 census he was listed as working in a factory as an engine driver.
With the outbreak of WW1, he returned to sea-faring, enlisting in the Mercantile Marine. During this period, his sons John and Cornelius were also merchant seamen, while Richard was a Driver with the Royal Engineers.
His brother in law, John Mackey would also die on board the SS Adela.
The scale of tragedy for this family was enormous as they also cared for Richard Mackey who was disabled.
Below a newspaper cutting of the time.