George Piper Boughton was born in Sunderland, England, in 1869 to Jane and Charles Boughton Commander of the SS Cingalese.Twelve years later the boy began his apprenticeship at sea, a lengthy, intense experience that made him a Master Mariner, then Captain, and finally a Member of the Marine Board for London and Superintendent to the Shipping Federation of Britain. He died on 1 January 1940, aged 71, in London, England.