Thomas Andrews

**Thomas Andrews Jr.** (February 7, 1873 - April 15, 1912) was the shipbuilder for the RMS Titanic, who took great pride in his work without being arrogant or conceited. He couldn’t stand to see the Titanic sink and vowed to go down with his creation, after helping as many passengers as he could get life jackets and find their way to safety.

He was a strategic thinker, who analyzed possible outcomes from the information at hand. He knew that 20 lifeboats wouldn’t be enough to save the lives of Titanic’s passengers should a catastrophe befall the ship, but was unfortunately discouraged by his financiers.

## **Personality and Traits**

Andrews is probably the most caring person on the ship on the ship. He even greets Jack with a smile while the latter is trying to get into first-class to speak with Rose, despite being a third class passenger. It's likely he sympathizes with Jack on some level.

As a perfectionist, he is shown making notes about various cosmetic improvements needed to the ship. True to the actions of the real man, Andrews desperately urges as many people as he can into the lifeboats, at one point angrily chewing out Lightoller for launching his boats at barely half their capacity. He does not make light the fact that the Titanic is beyond saving once he has assessed the damage done to his vessel. Even as Bruce Ismay and others around him scoff at the suggestion, Andrews presses everyone to get off by every means necessary.

## **Biography**

#### **The Voyage**

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 RMS 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. After the firemen on the Olympic had suggested ideas for better quarters, Andrews improved the Titanic's stoking accommodation personally for them, even including two drinking fountains on the firemen's staircase. Very flattered, the men invited him for a small party in their quarters. Later, Andrews would inspect the reciprocating engine room donning his blue surveyor's suit. All throughout the voyage he was a well-loved and social man who many people adored, but he was longing to get back to Ireland.

On April 11, Thomas was dining with Molly Brown, Bruce Ismay, Ruth Bukkater, Rose Bukkater, and Caledon Hockley in the Verandah Cafe. He said that the idea for the Titanic's was all Ismay, and laughed when Rose made a joke about Dr. Freud. 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." Later that day, he joined Cal, Rose and Ruth in a tour of the ship and told Rose to sleep soundly as Titanic was a safe ship.

On 14 April at 11:40 PM, the Titanic struck an iceberg on the ship's starboard side. Andrews had been in his stateroom, planning changes he wanted to make to the Britannic, noticed the collision due to his chandelier vibrating. Andrews then met Captain Edward J. Smith on the Bridge, and them, along with Wilde, Murdoch, Lightoller, Pitman, Hutchinson and Ismay, began to inspect the ship. They went to the firemen's stairwell, boiler rooms 5 and 6, the engine room, the mail hold, and the squash racquet court.

Well, three have gone already, Captain.

Stewardess Annie Robinson saw him and the Captain down near the mail hold, watching the clerks drag up 500 quarter-ton bags of mail up from the Orlop Deck to F Deck. As they ascended, she heard Andrews saying "well, three have gone already, Captain." Moments later, the water was only six steps from reaching E-Deck, where she was standing.

Andrews determined that the first five of the ship's watertight compartments were rapidly flooding. Andrews knew that if more than four of the ship's compartments flooded, it would inevitably sink. He relayed this information to Captain Smith, stating that it was a 'mathematical certainty', and adding that in his opinion, the vessel had only about an hour before it completely sank. He also informed Smith of the severe shortage of lifeboats on board the ship.

As the evacuation of the Titanic began, he asked Wilde where the passengers were, and when he found out where they were, Andrews was furious that the passengers were simply gathered around the public rooms. Andrews tirelessly searched staterooms telling the passengers to put on lifebelts and go up on deck. Several survivors testify to have met or spotted Andrews several times. Fully aware of the short time the ship had left and of the lack of lifeboat space for all passengers and crew, he continued to urge reluctant people into the lifeboats in the hope of filling them with as many people as possible. But then Rose came through asking where the master-at-arms would take someone under arrest. Later, he assisted the Captain and Wilde to try and call Lifeboat 6 to come back to the ship.

## **Death**

Andrews is seen standing in the first–class smoking room staring at a painting, "Plymouth Harbour", above the fireplace, his lifejacket lying on a nearby table; he gave the life jacket to Rose in hopes that she would survive. He also expressed to her his regrets and seeks her apology. Then they embrace, as a final farewell.

While the musicians performed Nearer God To Thee, Andrews was carefully correcting the clock on the mantle. Andrews died when the ship split and destroyed the smoking room.