Harland and Wolff Apprenticeship Begins
Begins a premium apprenticeship at Harland and Wolff after leaving the Royal Belfast Academical Institution at the age of sixteen.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Thomas Andrews Biography and Timeline
Follow Thomas Andrews through 53 dated historical records for Ireland.
Thomas Andrews, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
53Distinct records
1 of 2Page
1889–1912Years on this page
1889
1901
Institution of Naval Architects Membership
Becomes a member of the Institution of Naval Architects as his professional shipbuilding career advances.
1902
Institution of Mechanical Engineers Membership
Becomes a member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers while continuing his rise within Harland and Wolff.
1903
Harland and Wolff Chief Designer
Becomes chief designer at Harland and Wolff and assumes greater responsibility for major passenger-ship projects.
1907
Harland and Wolff Managing Director
Becomes a managing director of Harland and Wolff with responsibility for the firm's design work.
1908
Marriage to Helen Reilly Barbour
Marries Helen Reilly Barbour while serving as a senior designer and managing director at Harland and Wolff.
Titanic Design Development
Works on detailed design development for Titanic under Harland and Wolff management.
Andrews Oversees Olympic Design Development
Thomas Andrews coordinated engineering and design details for the emerging Olympic class at Harland and Wolff.
1909
Titanic Keel Laid
Titanic's keel is laid at Harland and Wolff, beginning construction of Yard Number 401.
Titanic Construction Inspection
Inspects construction work as Titanic's hull rises on Slipway Number 3.
Titanic Drawing Office Supervision
Supervises detailed drawing-office work as Titanic's design is translated into construction plans.
Titanic Keel Preparation
Helps oversee preparations for construction of Harland and Wolff Yard Number 401.
Titanic Keel Laid in Belfast
Thomas Andrews supervised shipbuilding work as Titanic's keel was laid in a berth beside her sister Olympic.
1910
Titanic Internal Arrangement
Reviews internal arrangements and technical details during Titanic's construction.
Andrews Continues Titanic Fitting Design
Thomas Andrews worked on the interiors and technical specifications that distinguished Titanic from the earlier Olympic.
1911
Titanic Hull Launch
Witnesses the completed hull enter the water before the fitting-out phase begins.
Assistant Doctor Room Enlargement Proposal
Recommends enlarging the assistant doctor's room while reviewing accommodation improvements for the Olympic-class liners.
Docking Bridge Pilot Proposal
Recommends placing the pilot on the after docking bridge when an Olympic-class liner is maneuvered stern-first at Southampton.
Officer Accommodation Improvement Proposal
Suggests changes to officer accommodation after observing Olympic's arrangements during her early service.
Olympic Improvement Notes
Records practical notes during Olympic's maiden voyage for improvements that could also influence Titanic and later sister ships.
Olympic Maiden Voyage Observation
Sails on Olympic's maiden voyage to observe the new liner in service and identify improvements for later Olympic-class ships.
Propeller Notice Board Proposal
Recommends permanently fitted propeller notice boards to reduce repeated handling and possible damage during ship operations.
Titanic Fitting Out
Oversees fitting-out work after Titanic's launch, including machinery, interiors and shipboard systems.
Andrews Joins Olympic Trials and Inspections
Thomas Andrews took part in reviewing the first Olympic class liner as its systems and accommodation were prepared for service.
Olympic Repairs Delay Titanic Construction
Thomas Andrews and other Harland and Wolff staff faced schedule pressure when Olympic returned for repairs after the collision.
Andrews Evaluates Titanic Bulkhead Configuration
Thomas Andrews examined Titanic's internal divisions during fitting out, before the ship's first Atlantic voyage.
1912
Titanic Delivery Voyage from Belfast
Travels aboard Titanic after the sea trials as the ship begins her delivery voyage from Belfast toward Southampton.
Titanic Handed Over
Titanic is completed and handed over to White Star Line after her sea trials.
Titanic Sea Trials
Joins Titanic during sea trials in Belfast Lough before the ship is handed over.
Guarantee Group Maiden Voyage
Remains aboard for the maiden voyage so the Guarantee Group can test systems and address problems.
Guarantee Group Maiden Voyage
Sails with Harland and Wolff's Guarantee Group to observe Titanic's performance and identify defects during the maiden voyage.
Maiden Voyage Technical Notes
Continues making technical notes and assisting the crew with minor difficulties as Titanic proceeds across the Atlantic.
Collision Response from Cabin
Responds after feeling the collision and becomes involved in determining the seriousness of the damage to Titanic.
Final Evening Blueprint Review
Returns to his cabin after dinner and reviews plans and technical notes during the evening before the collision.
Passenger Areas Inspection
Continues inspecting Titanic's passenger spaces and technical systems during the voyage before the collision.
Collision Damage Report to Captain
Reports to Captain Smith that the flooding is beyond Titanic's designed ability to remain afloat.
Death in Titanic Disaster
Dies when Titanic sinks after remaining aboard during the evacuation, and his body is never identified.
Deckchairs Thrown Overboard
Is reported throwing deckchairs overboard so they might provide flotation for people forced into the water.
Etches Passenger Warning Instructions
Directs steward Henry Etches to tell passengers where their lifebelts are stored and to help them put the belts on.
Flooding Extent Evaluation
Uses his detailed knowledge of Titanic's subdivision to assess how flooding of multiple forward compartments threatens the ship.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.