Harry Elkins Widener was an American bibliophile and philanthropist, born on January 3, 1885. He was known for his extensive collection of rare books and manuscripts, which he began assembling at a young age. Widener graduated from Harvard University in 1907 and was passionate about literature and history. Tragically, Widener died in the sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912. In his memory, his mother, Ellen Widener, donated his book collection to Harvard University, leading to the establishment of the Widener Library, which is one of the largest university libraries in the world.