Final answer:
Captain Edward John Smith was in command of the RMS Titanic when it sank on April 15, 1912. The RMS Lusitania, also a British ocean liner, was sunk by German action during World War I on May 7, 1915.
Step-by-step explanation:
The captain of the RMS Titanic when it sank on April 15, 1912, was Captain Edward John Smith. The tragedy of the Titanic is often compared to the sinking of the RMS Lusitania, which occurred on May 7, 1915. The Lusitania, a British ocean liner like the Titanic, was torpedoed by a German U-boat and sank within 18 minutes off the coast of Ireland, leading to the loss of over 1,200 lives, including 128 American citizens.
This event had significant geopolitical repercussions, fueling anti-German sentiments and influencing America's eventual decision to enter World War I.