Why does the Captian go down with the ship?

Question

When did this start?

Answer 1

Because he prides himself on his ship. It is HIS ship- he is the leader/the one in command. Also it is his responsibility to be with it.

Answer 2

Because thats what hollywood wants.   The captain is assigned to a lifeboat just like everyone else.   I've worked with a captian that had two ships sink under his command.   Didn't work with him long after learning that, but did work with him.

Answer 3

it's been around for, well, a long time.

The reason a captian goes down with his ship is because sailing that ship i shis pride and what he loves doing the most and what it means is that if his ship goes down, so does he.

Answer 4

It's a matter of honor that the Captain is responsible for everyone else's safety before his own.  He is supposed to be the last one to leave, which is why they used to go down with their ships so often.

Answer 5

He doesn't go down with the ship.  That myth has to do with the captain being responsible for the safety of everyone else on board, so it is not so much that he goes down with the ship, but that he has to make sure everyone is safely off before he gets off himself.  No one expects him to go down with the ship.

Answer 6

the same reason the man walk on the outside of the sidewalk by the street.

Answer 7

It means he's the last to go. If everyone is off, then he jumps as well. But he's stays with the ship till the last person is off. He's in charge and that's the way it is.

Answer 8

I have read all of the other answers and they are real good, but they all missed the real reason.-since shipping began the captain is responsible for the ship and it's contents. He had to be the last one to leave the ship to make certain that it was going to sank before he left the ship, because under maritime law,anything such as a ship that was found afloat with no crew or anyone on board -BECAME THE PROPERTY OF THE ONES THAT FOUND IT . That law is still in effect.