The ocean-liner the SS Minnesota was owned by Canadian-American railroad executive who became known as what during his lifetime?
SS Minnesota (1904) SS "Minnesota was an American built ocean-liner operated by the Great Northern Steamship Company which was owned by James J. Hill. She was an identical sister ship to the  which sank in Japan in 1907. Both ships built in 1903 were the largest and most luxurious liners built in the United States at the opening of the 20th century. Shortly after WW1 she was operated by the US Navy as USS "Troy" as a troop ship.
John Thayer (cricketer) John Borland Thayer II (April 21, 1862April 15, 1912) was an American businessman who had a thirty-year career as an executive with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He was a director and second vice-president of the company when he died a week before his 50th birthday in the sinking of the RMS "Titanic", on April 15, 1912. In his youth, Thayer was also a prominent sportsman, playing baseball and lacrosse for the University of Pennsylvania and first-class cricket for the Philadelphian cricket team. He is the only first-class cricketer known to have died aboard "Titanic".