Thomas Andrews Jr.: Titanic Architect and Victim
7 February 1873 – 15 April 1912
When the RMS Titanic slipped into the waters of the North Atlantic, she carried with her the reputation of the man who knew her better than anyone else: Thomas Andrews Jr. As the Managing Director of Harland and Wolff, Andrews wasn’t just a businessman in a suit; he was a “shipbuilder” in the truest sense, famous for his “premium” work ethic and a genius for design that pushed the boundaries of Edwardian engineering.
Known to his colleagues as a man of tireless energy and to his family as a devoted husband and father, Andrews’ story is one of both immense triumph and profound tragedy. On the night of April 14, 1912, he was the first to realise the ship’s fate, spending his final hours not in a lifeboat, but in the corridors of his masterpiece, ensuring as many others as possible could escape.
From the specific cabin he occupied to the asteroid that now carries his name, here is a chronological look at the life, work, and legacy of Thomas Andrews Jr.
Above: A portrait of Thomas Andrews Jr., the architect of the Titanic, who perished in the disaster.
7 February 1873 – the date Thomas Andrews Jr. was born at Ardara House in Comber, County Down.
1884 – the year Andrews began his education at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution.
16 – the age Andrews was when he began his premium apprenticeship at Harland and Wolff.
1889 – the year Andrews started his career under his uncle, Viscount Pirrie.
3 months – the time Andrews spent in the joiners’ shop at the start of his apprenticeship.
1 month – the duration of his training in the cabinetmakers’ shop.
2 months – the time Andrews spent working directly on ships before his promotion to the drawing office.
18 months – the duration of the final stage of his apprenticeship spent in the drawing office.
1901 – the year Andrews became a member of the Institution of Naval Architects.
11 Wellington Place – the boarding address where Andrews lived while serving as Assistant Shipyard Manager in 1901.
1907 – the year Andrews was appointed Managing Director of Harland and Wolff.
Did You Know?
Thomas Andrews suffered varicose veins in his legs, and was once presented with a walking stick by crew members of RMS Olympic.
3 – the number of Olympic-class ocean liners (RMS Olympic, RMS Titanic, and RMS Britannic) designed by Andrews and his team.
24 June 1908 – the date Andrews married Helen Reilly Barbour.
12 Windsor Avenue – the original address of “Dunallan,” the Andrews’ family home in Belfast.
20 – the current house number of the Andrews’ former home on Windsor Avenue.
27 November 1910 – the date Andrews’ daughter, Elizabeth Law-Barbour Andrews (ELBA), was born.
2 April 1912 – the date Andrews traveled from Belfast on the Titanic for her sea trials.
A-36 – the first-class cabin number occupied by Andrews during the maiden voyage.
4 April – the date Andrews arrived in Southampton to begin final coordination of the ship’s completion.
I wired you this morning of our safe arrival after a very satisfactory trip. The weather was good and everyone most pleasant. I think the ship will clean up all right before sailing on Wednesday. – Thomas Andrews in a note to his wife Helen, written upon arrival in Southampton
8:30 – the time each morning Andrews arrived at his offices while the ship was in Southampton.
6:30 – the time in the evening Andrews typically finished his ship-side duties to return to the office and sign letters.
9 April – the date Andrews wrote his final letter to his wife before the ship sailed.
10 April 1912 – the date Andrews officially boarded the Titanic for her maiden voyage departure.
11 April – the day Andrews was seen performing a general bulkhead inspection with Chief Officer Wilde.
12 April – the night Andrews expressed his “sad expression” regarding being away from home to stewardess Mary Sloan.
11:40 PM – the exact time the Titanic struck the iceberg on 14 April 1912.
16 – the total number of watertight compartments on the Titanic; Andrews realised the ship could not survive with more than four breached.
5 – the number of forward watertight compartments Andrews confirmed were flooding after the collision.
1.5 hours – the amount of time Andrews estimated the ship had left to stay afloat.
7 – the number of the first lifeboat Andrews was recorded as assisting during the evacuation.
15 – the number of the lifeboat that steward John Stewart boarded at 1:40 am, which complicates the timeline of his sighting of Andrews.
2:05 AM – the time Andrews was reportedly seen standing “stunned” in the First Class Smoking Room.
2:20 AM – the time the Titanic foundered; Andrews perished along with over 1,500 others.
39 – Andrew’s age at the time of his death.
19 April 1912 – the date Andrews’ father received a telegram from New York detailing his son’s “heroic death.”
Did You Know?
SS Nomadic is the only surviving ship in the world designed by Thomas Andrews..
January 1914 – the month the Thomas Andrews Jr. Memorial Hall was opened in Comber.
62 – the age of Andrews’ daughter, Elizabeth, when she passed away in 1973.
2004 – the year in which an asteroid was named in Andrews’ honour.
245158 – the number of the asteroid (full name “Asteroid 245158 Thomasandrews”).
More To Explore
If you have enjoyed reading all about Thomas Andrews Jr., why not read about another famous victim, Benjamin Guggenheim, explore some of the other famous people on Titanic, read about the sinking of Titanic, or find out where Titanic sank.