Thomas Andrews
“Let the Truth be known, no ship is unsinkable. The bigger the ship, the easier it is to sink her. I learned long ago that if you design how a ship'll sink, you can keep her afloat."
- - Thomas Andrews
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Who is Thomas Andrews?
Who is Thomas Andrews?
Thomas Andrews Jr. was an experienced shipbuilder, and a victim of the Titanic sinking. While the ship was submerging, he saved many lives, but unfortunately, he saved them at the cost of his own.
By: History On The Net
Researcher: Jan Celine Zaballero
Revised by: Shaine Salonga
The Titanic in the process of being built.
Citations
Citations
Text - “The Titanic - Why Did the Titanic Sink?” History, 12 May 2017,https://www.historyonthenet.com/the-titanic-why-did-the-titanic-sink
Abstract
Abstract
Thomas Andrews is the head builder of the Titanic. He should know all about the measurements and materials needed to be used, in order to make the ship reach its “unsinkable” state. When building a ship, more specially the Titanic, all the measurements must be exact and proportional. When it is not, then there are high chances for an accidental issue to occur, just like what eventually happened to the Titanic. Andrews requests to make a practical adjustment to the ship's design, and that would be to make the walls reach all the way up to the B deck. Unfortunately, the Titanic's architect and the White Star Line declined his request. If the walls have been raised higher, just like what Andrews wanted, then the Titanic would've stayed afloat longer, and maybe wouldn't have sank at all.
Notable Quotations
Notable Quotations
“The belief that the ship was unsinkable was, in part, due to the fact that the Titanic had sixteen watertight compartments. However, the compartments did not reach as high as they should have done. The White Star Line did not want them to go all the way up because this would have reduced living space in first class. If Mr Andrews, the ship’s architect, had insisted on making them the correct height then maybe the Titanic would not have sunk” ("Why Did The Titanic Sink?" Paragraph 5).
"When the ship hit the iceberg, the force of the impact caused the heads of the rivets to break and the sections of the Titanic to come apart. If good quality iron rivets had been used the sections may have stayed together and the ship may not have sunk" ("Why Did The Paragraph Sink?" Paragraph 3).
By: Peter M.J Hess
Researcher: Jan Celine Zaballero
The Titanic hitting the iceberg, severely damaging the surface.
Citation
Citation
Text - Hess, Ph.D. Peter M. J. “The Titanic, Climate Change and Avoidable Tragedies.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.com, 21 May 2012, www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-m-j-hess-phd/the-titanic-climate-change-and-avoidable-tragedies_b_1516250.html.
Abstract
Abstract
Like what has been stated earlier, Thomas Andrews didn’t get his measurements correct. The bulkheads weren’t high enough, causing the watertight compartments not being sealable and the ship needed double hulls to help to stay afloat better. This caused the compartments to fill with water and pour over to the next compartment. He only noticed these errors after they finished building the Titanic. When he went to his supervisors to fix it, they said no, for it would cost more and take more time fix.
Notable Quotations
Notable Quotations
“Titanic suffered a cascading disaster in which sea water from one ruptured compartment spilled over the bulkhead into the next, inexorably causing the ship to founder. Analogously, as our ever-increasing human demands for energy, water, housing, transportation and agricultural land run up against the immovable iceberg that is human carrying capacity, we are witnessing the cascading failure of our fragile terrestrial support systems. Both calamities are the result of a collision between human overconfidence and the implacable forces of nature” (Huffington Post).
“To minimize weight, maximize speed and preserve aesthetics, the owners skimped on lifeboats, installed inadequate bulkheads and relied on a single iron hull.Thomas Andrews recognized these design flaws and argued for 46 more lifeboats, for bulkheads that reached up to B deck to create sealable watertight compartments and for a double hull. On every point he was overridden by his cost-conscious supervisors” (Huffington Post).
Blueprint of the Titanic.
Citation
Citation
Text - “History - Thomas Andrews.” BBC, BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/thomas_andrews
Abstract
Abstract
Thomas Andrews may have been an essential part of the Titanic's sinking. Well informed about the functions of ships, the several inspections made by him declared that the ship worked perfectly, and that safety measures had been made. Andrews also helped design the ship, and ignored some of the safety flaws built, such as few lifeboats.
Notable Quotations
Notable Quotations
“As the ship's chief designer he was said to be familiar with every detail of the vessel. He was a key member of the Harland and Wolff 'guarantee group' whose role was to closely observe the ship during its passage and advise on any improvements that needed to be made” (Huffington Post).
"During his many safety inspections of the Titanic, before and during the maiden voyage, he failed to realize the problem of safety measures, even though it was his job. In the end, he had to pay for these mistakes with his life" (Huffington Post).
By: Encyclopedia Titanica
Researcher: Kalie Jimenez
Revised by: Alani Rey
This is what Thomas Andrews looks like.
Citation
Citation
Abstract
Abstract
Thomas Andrews was one of the ship designers for the Titanic. He was also the nephew of one of the principal builders for the ship. He died in the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Researchers claim he was last seen staring into space by the painting in the first class smoking room, with no lifebelt. He warned the captain of the ship sinking, telling him that they had no more than two hours until the ship completely sunk. This was due to the fact that the ship was severely damaged and five compartments were quickly filling with water. He constantly put others before himself so he made sure many of the passengers were safe.
Notable Quotations
Notable Quotations
“At sea, Andrews had spent most of the journey making notes and assisting the crew with minor difficulties as they got to know the ship” (Encyclopedia Titanica).
“During the liner’s final hours Andrews wandered the decks encouraging passengers to wear their lifeboats and to make their way to the lifeboats” (Encyclopedia Titanica).
This is a photo of Thomas Andrews.
Citation
Citation
Text -
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/thomas_andrews ,BBC - History
- Building the Titanic by: Sean McCollum
Abstract
Abstract
Thomas Andrews was on board the Titanic in 1912 and seemed to be aware about every part of the ship. As the head designer and engineer, he was responsible to make sure that every inaccurate measurement on the ship was soon repaired. Andrews was one of the very few to inspect the damage the iceberg had done to the ship. He was the one who informed the captain of the ship’s crash. Because the crash was so serious, they all knew that eventually, the ship was bound to sink. Before the ship sunk, Andrews had spent the time he had left encouraging passengers to get into lifeboats and wear as much clothing as possible. His knowledge saved many lives, putting others’ lives before his own. He continued to help as many people as possible throwing objects into the water so that people were able to float. Most sources say that he did go down with the ship, but what people could not get by was that his body was never found.
Notable Quotations
Notable Quotations
"After accident, Andrews ascertained damage, advised passengers put heavy clothing, prepare leave vessel. Many sceptical about seriousness damage, but impressed by Andrew's' knowledge, personality, followed his advice, saved their lives. He assisted many women, children to lifeboats. When last seen, officers say was throwing overboard deck chairs, other objects, to people in water. His chief concern safety of everyone but himself" (BBC).
“In the sure knowledge that the fate of Titanic had been sealed, Tommie's actions were said by many survivors to be nothing short of heroic" (BBC History).
“Thomas was the head engineer of building the Titanic. He was in charge of the ship’s design and form” (Building the Titanic) by: Sean McCollum).
By: Biography.com editors
Summary by: Kieran Chotiner
Revised by: Shaine Salonga
This photo shows the interior features of the Titanic.
Abstract
Abstract
As the lead designer and architect of the RMS Titanic, It was Thomas Andrews' duty to create a safe, luxurious, top-of-the-line ship for the White Star Line. As everybody knows, he definitely made a very luxurious ship, but did not implement proper safety onto its structure. Regrettably, his research for the Titanic didn't reveal the own ship's risk of accident, and its design leading to abhorrent chaos.
Notable Quotations
Notable Quotations
“Andrews was the principal architect for Harland & Wolff's new superliner, the RMS Titanic. In 1912, he boarded the Titanic for her maiden voyage to America, as he made it a practice to accompany all of his ships' debuts for research purposes“ (Biography.com)
“Andrews was the principal architect for Harland & Wolff's new superliner, the RMS Titanic. In 1912, he boarded the Titanic for her maiden voyage to America, as he made it a practice to accompany all of his ships' debuts for research purposes“ (Biography.com)
By: Biography.com editors & Amy Tikkanen
Researcher: Shaine Salonga
Here is another photo of Thomas Andrews.
Abstract
Abstract
Ever since Thomas Andrews Jr. was still a young man, he always had the obsession with the art of ship building. As a matter of fact, he left school in order to become his uncle's apprentice, who was a famous ship builder named William James Pirrie. While his brother John, became the prime minister of Northern Ireland, he became a successful ship builder and designer who worked on the Oceanic and the Titanic. Andrews became an important member of various organizations, including the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. In 1908, he soon married Helen Reilly Barbour. Two years after their marriage, they had a beloved daughter named Elizabeth. Unfortunately, his wife was left a widow with a two year old daughter. At age 39, he sunk along with his creation, the Titanic.
Notable Quotations
Notable Quotations
“Shipbuilder and Titanic victim Thomas Andrews Jr. was born on February 7, 1873, in Comber, Northern Ireland. The nephew of Lord Pirrie, the owner of the shipbuilding firm Harland and Wolff, Thomas Andrews left school at age 16 to become an apprentice at his uncle's company. In time, Andrews rose through the ranks to become the managing director at Harland & Wolff, in charge of design. He became a member of the Institution of Naval Architects in 1901" (Biography.com).
“Ultimately, Andrews became the main designer of both the Olympic and the Titanic, which upon completion were the largest and arguably most luxurious liners of their time ” (Britannica.com)
Men, women, and children are safely leaving the Titanic and hoping to find an opportunity to last in the cold sea.
Abstract
Abstract
A revised summary: At the age of 16, Thomas Andrews had started off working as an apprentice in the Harland and Wolff. This experience gave him the knowledge of all aspects of ship building and later become head of the designing department and managing director of Harland and Wolff. Thomas Andrews may have been an essential part of the Titanic's sinking. Well informed about the functions of ships, the several inspections made by him declared that the ship worked perfectly, and that safety measures had been made. Andrews also helped design the ship, and ignored some of the safety flaws built, such as few lifeboats. For resolving his mistakes, Andrews was encouraging the passengers to safely make their way to the lifeboats at the time of the sinking.
Notable Quotations
Notable Quotations
"A young survivor of the sinking confirmed in a memoir many years later that he remember Andrews telling him and his parents that the ship would sink in an hour. “We could hardly believe it, and yet if he said so, it must be true,” he wrote. “No one was better qualified to know.” In the end, only just over 700 people survived the ship's sinking, writes Flayhart, and the lifeboats had been rowed away while not at capacity because people chose not to get in" (Smithsonian.com).
"When the ship struck an iceberg, it was Andrews who evaluated the damage it had caused and went to tell the captain...In the shortened telegram language, it confirms his attention: “When last seen, officers say was throwing deck chairs, other objects, to people in water. His chief concern safety of everyone but himself” (Smithsonian.com)
If you have any questions, then please contact:
If you have any questions, then please contact:
Shaine Salonga - Manager, researcher, reviser, editor, and summarizer.
Kelsy Garcia - Researcher, revisor, and summarizer.
Charlotte Castaneda - Researcher, revisor, and summarizer.
ccastaned0072@mymail.lausd.net
Alani Rey - Reviser and editor.
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