31 Facts About Thomas Andrews

Thomas Andrews was the naval architect in charge of the plans for the ocean liner Titanic and perished along with more than 1,500 people when the ship sank on her maiden voyage.

At Harland and Wolff, Thomas Andrews began with three months in the joiners' shop, followed by a month in the cabinetmakers' and then a further two months working on the ships.

Thomas Andrews worked tirelessly during the day and continued his studies in the evening hours.

Thomas Andrews was intimately connected with the design of Olympic and Titanic.

Thomas Andrews was a tireless worker; he frequently showed up at the shipyard at any time.

Thomas Andrews was always willing to pitch in and lend a hand at some physically demanding work task as the need arose.

Thomas Andrews was known to have shared his lunch with fellow workers when the need came up.

Thomas Andrews was willing to listen to input from workers who thought they had a better way to do something.

On 24 June 1908, Thomas Andrews married Helen Reilly Barbour, daughter of textile industrialist John Doherty Barbour and sister to the politician Sir John Milne Barbour, known as "Milne".

Thomas Andrews even felt that, in some way, Andrews managed to impart some of his positive personality into the ships he had designed and helped build.

Thomas Andrews headed a group of Harland and Wolff workers called the guarantee group, who went on the maiden voyages of their ships in order to observe ship operations and spot any necessary improvements.

Thomas Andrews had been assigned to head up the builder's delegation during the trials.

Thomas Andrews was accompanied by Edward Wilding and yard employees.

Thomas Andrews was booked in First Class and would occupy cabin A-36.

At the time of the departure from Belfast, Thomas Andrews' father was ill and his wife Helen had not been well, either.

Thomas Andrews generally left his hotel about 8:30 for the offices, where he dealt with his correspondence, then went on board until 6:30, where he would return to the offices to sign letters.

Thomas Andrews was pleased with what he found, it was said.

Thomas Andrews's spirits were high and he said, "Remember now and keep Mrs Andrews informed of any news of the vessel".

Thomas Andrews saw Andrews and Chief Officer Henry Tingle Wilde checking to make sure that the crew would close the watertight doors manually.

Johnstone saw Thomas Andrews come back up to D Deck and head towards the mail room.

Thomas Andrews saw Andrews come back with Captain Edward J Smith and overheard Andrews saying, "Well, three have gone already, Captain"; Smith and Andrews separated, with Smith heading up to the bridge, while Andrews stayed below to continue his inspection.

Thomas Andrews determined that the first five of the ship's sixteen watertight compartments were rapidly flooding, more than the four that the vessel was supposed to withstand.

Thomas Andrews was seen by First Class passenger Anna Warren rushing up the Grand Staircase on D Deck, taking the steps three at a time, with a "look of terror" on his face.

Passenger William Sloper saw Thomas Andrews rushing up the staircase on A Deck, hurrying towards the bridge, "worried".

Thomas Andrews told Etches to follow him down the Pantry stairs to C Deck, and began to instruct Etches to "be sure and make the passengers open their doors, and to tell them the lifebelts were on top of the wardrobes and on top of the racks", as well as to assist them in every way that the steward could, which Etches endeavoured to follow through on.

When Chief Purser McElroy told them he wanted passengers to put lifebelts on, Thomas Andrews said, "That is exactly what I have been trying to get them to do"; he left to go down the stairs to D Deck.

Thomas Andrews motioned Eleanor Cassebeer into Boat No 5; when asked why he did not get in, he replied, "No, women and children first".

Thomas Andrews perished along with more than 1,500 others; his body was never recovered.

An unnamed officer reportedly saw Thomas Andrews throwing deck chairs overboard for people to use as floatation devices.

Thomas Andrews was reportedly seen, carrying a lifebelt, possibly the lifebelt from the smoking room, heading to the bridge, perhaps to search for Captain Smith.

Violet Jessop said that while on the Carpathia, she had searched for Thomas Andrews but found he was among the missing when the roll was called.