Born on February 7th 1873, in Comber, a small town in County Down, Northern Ireland. The Andrews's family had been prominent in Comber for generations, establishing various commercial enterprises in the town including a linen mill.
Thomas Andrews Jr was born to parents Thomas Andrews Sr and Eliza Pirrie, the sister of Lord Pirrie (the future chairman of Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast). His eldest brother, John Miller Andrews, would go on to become the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland while his younger brother James, would eventually become Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland.
As a boy, Thomas was said to have been "handsome, plucky and loveable" and he enjoyed outdoor life. Thomas loved animals when he was growing up, especially horses, and he was said to have been a keen rider. He also enjoyed sailing on the nearby Strangford Lough where the family owned a holiday home. Due to his love of sailing, Thomas gained his childhood nickname "The Admiral".
While growing up, Thomas Andrews was educated privately by a tutor until the age of 11, after which he then attended the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. While in attendance, Thomas was said to have not been an outstanding student instead preferring sport and in particular cricket.
At the age of 16, Andrews left school and started working at Harland and Wolff as an apprentice also moving into the lodgings in Belfast. His apprenticeship allowed him to gain excellent knowledge in all aspects of ship building. During his apprenticeship, Thomas spent three months working in the joiners' shop, a month in with cabinet-makers, and two months on manual labour with in the shipyard itself. He spent five years following the cycle however he spent the last 18 months of his apprenticeship in the drawing office.
While also working at the shipyard, Thomas Andrews also attended night classes at the Belfast College of Technology, during his time at the college he went on to find his vocation, specialising as ship designer. At the age of 28 in 1901, he became the the head of the designing department within Harland and Wolff after Alexander Carlisle (who had joined at the same time as Lord Pirrie) retired from designing. In the same year, Andrews joined the Royal Institution of Navel Architects as a member. Then in 1907, Andrews was appointed the managing director of Harland and Wolff.
In December of 1908 (only three months before Titanic), work had begun on Olympic the first ship within the Olympic Class Liners conceived by Thomas Andrews's uncle, Lord Pirrie. Over the next two years, Andrews saw his designs (and plans) for both ships come to life on the Harland and Wolff slipways.
On June 23rd 1908, Thomas married Helen Reilly Barbour (daughter of John Doherty Barbour a textile industrialist and she was also the sister of the Rt Hon Sir John Milne Barbour). Together they made their family home in Windsor Avenue, located in South Belfast. On November 27th 1910, Helen gave birth to the couple's daughter, Elizabeth Law-Barbour Andrews.
When Titanic set sail in 1912, Thomas Andrews was on board. As the ship's chief designer, Andrews was said to be familiar with every single detail of the vessel. He was seen as a key member of the Harland and Wolff "Guarantee Group" whose role onboard the ship was to closely observe the ship during it's maiden voyage and advise on any improvements that needed to be made. After Titanic struck the iceberg, Thomas was the person who inspected the damage. This meant that he was the one to inform Captain Smith that the ship was 'doomed' and would certainly sink.
With the Knowledge that the fate of Titanic had been sealed, Thomas's actions were said by many survivors to have been nothing short of heroic. He spent some of the final moments of his life encouraging passengers to get in
to the lifeboats. He was last seen looking at a painting of Plymouth Harbour by Norman Wilkinson. The painting was located in the first class smoking room, hanging above the fireplace.
The following telegram, sent out by the White Star Line from it's New York Office, described what Thomas Andrews did:
"After accident, Andrews ascertained damage, advised passengers put on heavy clothing, prepare to leave vessel. Many sceptical about seriousness of damage, but impressed by Andrews's knowledge and personality, followed his advice, saved their lives. He assisted many women and children to lifeboats. When last seen, officers say he was throwing overboard deck chairs and other objects, to people in the water. His chief concern, safety of everyone but himself."
Today in his home town of Comber, the life of Thomas Andrews Jr is commemorated by the memorial hall, built by public subscription and was opened three years after his death in 1915. Andrew's body was never recovered (if it was it was too badly damaged to be identified) from the North Atlantic Ocean, but he is remembered on the family grave with the words:
"Pure, just, generous, affectionate and heroic. He gave his life so that others might be saved."
This Video shows Thomas Andrews family's grave and the Obelisk located in Comber.
Video credit goes to Tom McClean Positive Belfast on youtube
If you would like to know more on Thomas Andrews then check out the following links:
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