Thomas Andrews

**Thomas Andrews, Jr.** (February 7th, 1873 - April 15th, 1912) was an Irish businessman and shipbuilder, as well as the managing director and head of the draughting department for the shipbuilding company Harland and Wolff in Belfast, Ireland. Andrews was the shipbuilder in charge of the plans for the ocean liner RMS *Titanic*. He was traveling on board the *Titanic* during its maiden voyage when it sank on April 15th, 1912 and was one of the 1,496 people lost in the sinking.

## Biography

### Early Life

Thomas Andrews Jr. was a son of the Right Honorable Thomas Andrews and Eliza Pirrie; he was also a nephew of Lord Pirrie, principal owner of Harland & Wolff (the shipbuilders of the *Titanic*). He had 3 brothers: John Miller (1871-1956), James (1877-1951) William (1886-1966) and and 1 sister Eliza (1874-1930). John Andrews grew up to become the second Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, while James Andrews became Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.

In 1884, Andrews entered the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, but at the age of 16 he left school and entered Harland & Wolff shipbuilders as a premium apprentice, gradually working his way up through various departments. He eventually became the managing director of H & W in charge of designing, and was familiar with every detail of the construction of the firm's ships. In 1901, Andrews became a member of the Institution of Naval Architects, and on June 24, 1908 he married Helen Reilly Barbour; two years later a daughter, Elizabeth, reffered to as Elba, was born to the young couple and they lived at Dunallon, Windsow Avenue, Belfast.

Thomas Andrews made a point of sailing with a team of mechanics on the maiden voyages of the *Adriatic*, *Oceanic* and *Olympic* in order to observe their operation and recommend improvements to future vessels slated to be built by his firm. It was for this very reason that Andrews planned to sail on *Titanic* 's maiden voyage to America, and the thirty-eight-year-old executive left his wife and daughter in Belfast while he accompanied the vessel first to Southampton and, later, out onto the vast expanse of the North Atlantic. In his final letter to Mrs. Andrews he expressed his satisfaction with the new vessel: *"The Titanic is now about complete and will I think do the old Firm credit tomorrow when we sail"*. Andrews boarded with a complimentary ticket No. 112050.

## Big plans for big ships

In 1907, Andrews began to oversee the plans for a new superliner, the RMS *Olympic* for the White Star Line. He was given this assignment by White Star Line under supervision of Lord Pirrie and Bruce Ismay. These two autocratic men had a dinner and brainstormed about this, after seeing the successes of the fast Lusitania and Mauritania ships of the rival Cunard Line. Pirrie had made a sketch but it was very outdated and it looked too much like older model ships that White Star Line already had several of. It was based on a more general plan, that was several years old. So nothing too special. The plans came into the hands of greater thinkers, with less rigid views. Thomas Andrews and Edward Wilding, both being in their thirties, younger than Ismay and Pirrie, had much more innovative ideas. The new ships had to be a longer, with an unaborted superstructure over the full length, 4 funnels, only needed two masts instead of four. The sails didn't matter anymore. Slowly but steadily a ship was created that would meet the standards of its time. 45.000 brt, 270m long, 28m wide.

The *Olympic* and its sister ship the *Titanic*, which began construction in 1909, Andrews. As he had done for the other ships he had overseen, Andrews familiarised himself with every detail of the *Olympic* and *Titanic*, in order to ensure that they were in optimal working order. Unfortunately, Andrews was overruled to have 46 lifeboats (instead of only the 20 lifeboats that it ended up with) and a double hull and water tight bulkheads that went up to B deck.

Andrews headed a group of Harland and Wolff workers who went on the maiden voyages of the ships built by the company (the guarantee group), to observe ship operations and spot any necessary improvements. The *Titanic* was no exception, so Andrews and the rest of his Harland and Wolff group travelled from Belfast to Southampton on *Titanic* for the beginning of her maiden voyage on 10 April 1912. During the voyage, Andrews took notes on various improvements he felt were needed, primarily cosmetic changes to various facilities. However, on 14 April, Andrews remarked to a friend that *Titanic* was "as nearly perfect as human brains can make her."

### Onboard the *Titanic*

Andrews travelled in First Class as the leader of the Harland & Wolff Titanic Garantuee Group. At sea, Andrews had spent most of the journey making notes and assisting the crew with minor difficulties as they got to know the new ship. Always a popular man on these trips, everyone came to him with his issues. He was known as a very friendly, gentle-hearted and kind man, who also didn't care too much of class differences. He was hardworking and had a lot of knowledge. One time First Officer Murdoch wanted to talk to him that he had been relegated from Chief Officer to First Officer. Another time, he settled a quibble between two stewardesses, who saw Andrews as some higher court of justice. Chief Baker Charles Joughin had even baked Andrews a special loaf of bread.

On the evening of April 14th, as usual, Bedroom Steward Henry Samuel Etches arrived at 6:45 to help Andrews dress for dinner which he usually took with Dr. O'Loughlin the ship's surgeon. After dinner, Andrews returned to his cabin (A-36) to pore over blueprints and collate his notes. He planned to reduce the size of the Reading and Writing Room because it was barely used, a few extra cabins could be added. Andrews barely noticed the collision and was unaware of any problem until Captain Smith sent a message requesting his immediate presence on the bridge.

Later, Saloon Steward James Johnson described how he saw Andrews and Captain Smith touring the forward part of the ship, they visited the flooding mail room and the squash court which was also quickly filling with water. Back on the bridge, Andrews broke the news to Captain Smith that in view of the damage the ship had suffered he did not expect her to stay afloat more than two hours.

During the liner's final hours Andrews wandered the decks encouraging passengers to wear their lifebelts and to make their way to the boats.

In the final moments, John Stewart saw Andrews in the First Class Smoke Room, staring at a painting, his life jacket discarded on a nearby table. "Aren't you gonna try it, Mr. Andrews?" Andrews didn't reply; he didn't even look at Stewart. The shipbuilder was left behind while the steward boarded one of the last lifeboats, No. 15.

## Sources

1. 'Titanic' ©1996 (second print, 1998) *Edward P. De Groot*