Joseph Robert Long was born on March 5th, 1881 in Liverpool, England. He was born into the sea trade, his father having been a third officer of the Red Star Line during his birth, and his older brothers being apprentices aboard smaller cargo steamers. Joseph entered the sea trade himself at 16 as a seaman on board the R.M.S Teutonic of the White Star Line.
He served aboard her before being transferred to the R.M.S. Oceanic II in 1900. There he was promoted to Able Bodied Seaman. He served on her until the maiden voyage of the R.M.S Cedric in 1903, which he was transferred to. He served 4 years on her until he was transferred to the R.M.S Adriatic in 1907.
He would serve there for another 4 years before being transferred to the R.M.S Olympic, the world's largest ocean liner at the time. He joined the Olympic on her second westbound crossing, and had found the new ship rather puzzling, given she was a different beast to the ships before her.
He soon became acquainted with her, and came to enjoy working aboard her. In April of 1912, Joseph had signed on the R.M.S Titanic on her maiden voyage. He survived the disaster on board Collapsible D and testified in the American enquiry.
When the Great War broke out in 1914, Joseph enlisted in the Royal Navy. He served aboard cruisers until his transfer to the newly finished H.M.H.S Britannic in
1915. He served on her for three voyages until she was returned to the White Star Line. He then served aboard another cruiser before returning to the Britannic when she was recalled in August of 1916. He would again be joining the Britannic on her sixth voyage from Southampton to Lemnos.