Hugh Williams: The Man That Lives Forever?

Welcome to Season 1, Episode 3 of “Random Knowledge You Should Know”.

Ahoy, listeners, prepare to be swept into the stormy saga of Hugh Williams, a name that seems to defy the ocean’s wrath with eerie, almost supernatural luck! This isn’t just one man—it’s a legend tied to multiple shipwrecks across centuries, where men named Hugh Williams miraculously survived disasters that claimed countless lives. From sinking ships in the 17th century to a chilling 1940 rescue, we’re diving into ten jaw-dropping facts about this maritime mystery that’ll make you question fate, coincidence, or something stranger. Batten down the hatches for a wild ride through history’s most bizarre nautical tale!

1664 Wreck Spared Only Hugh Williams

On December 5, 1664, a ship carrying 81 passengers sank in the Menai Strait off Wales. The sole survivor was a man named Hugh Williams, who clung to wreckage until rescued. Historical records, including parish logs, confirm this disaster, sparking the first whisper of the “Hugh Williams curse” among maritime historians and folklore

enthusiasts.https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/hugh-williams-shipwreck/

https://hoaxeye.com/2019/08/08/the-unsinkable-hugh-williams/

1785 Shipwreck Left Hugh Williams Standing

On December 5, 1785, another vessel sank in the Menai Strait, this time with 54 aboard. Once again, the only survivor was a Hugh Williams, who reportedly swam to shore. Chronicled in Welsh annals, this second coincidence fueled local legends, intriguing statisticians and sailors studying improbable survivals.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/posts/The-unsinkable-Hugh-Williams

https://www.history.com/news/the-strange-case-of-hugh-williams

1820 Disaster Repeated the Name’s Luck

On August 19, 1820, a ship foundered in the Irish Sea near Anglesey, drowning 25 passengers—except for, you guessed it, Hugh Williams. Local records from Caernarfon note his survival, adding a third layer to the myth. Folklorists and probability experts marvel at this recurring name in maritime disasters.

https://hoaxeye.com/2019/08/08/the-unsinkable-hugh-williams/

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/unsinkable-hugh-williams-story-man-14473560

1940 Fishing Boat Rescue Defied Odds

On December 10, 1940, the British fishing boat My Lady sank off the Isle of Man with six crewmen. Five drowned, but a lone survivor, Hugh Williams, was plucked from the icy waters. Reported in the Isle of Man Times, this modern echo of the legend stunned WWII-era readers and maritime researchers.

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/hugh-williams-shipwreck/

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/625738/unsinkable-hugh-williams

Common Name, Uncommon Fate in Wales

Hugh Williams was a popular name in 17th–19th century Wales, akin to “John Smith” today, yet its repeated link to sole survivors is statistically bizarre. Welsh genealogists, like those at Bangor University, note the name’s prevalence but can’t explain its monopoly on survival, fascinating data analysts and historians.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/posts/The-unsinkable-Hugh-Williams

https://www.wales.com/about/culture/hugh-williams-legend

1883 Schooner Added a Twist with Two Hughs

On December 10, 1883, a schooner sank off Anglesey with 27 aboard. Two survivors, both named Hugh Williams (one a passenger, one a crewman), swam to safety. This double-Hugh anomaly, logged in maritime records, deepened the myth, t