Titanic 2013: Shipowners

Titanic 2013: Shipowners by ric gustafson


Soon after June 1907, Bruce Ismay chairman of the White Star Line proposed building three liners that would be the best in luxury ever built. This was in response to the rise of the Cunard Line which was the dominant power in the North Atlantic. Cunard built the Lusitania, Mauretania and Aquitania in 1907 to 1914.
Ismay wanted to build an Olympic class of liners and call them Olympic, Titanic and the Britannic. He told his idea to Lord Pirrie who was head of the Belfast shipyard Harland and Wolff. Ismay invisioned Titanic to be the best in shipbuilding.
The Oceanic was built at 3,078 tons and made it the largest built to that time. It was capable of 14 knots and it was able to cross the Atlantic in eight to ten days. It had 130 crew members and could carry 1200 passengers. In 1870, this ship set new standards for size and comfort. White Star built larger first class cabins and baths with running water. White Star put the first class cabins midship which made passengers happy. Other ships built for White Star before Titanic included the Adriatic, Britannic, Germanic, Arabic, Coptic, Ionic and the Doric. In 1887, two new liners were built for White Star called the Teutonic and the Majestic.
In 1892, Bruce Ismay became Managing Director of the White Star Line. He became Director after the death of his father Thomas Ismay in 1899. Ismay was showy and had a temper. He stood six feet tall and was an avid sportsman. He was a self made millionaire and commanded high prestige.
Lord Pirrie was a small man with high confidence and intrepid nerves. He seldom read anything except business papers and newspapers. Pirrie lost his father at age two and that forged the personality that he had. He became a partner in Harland and Wolff at age twenty seven and became chairman after 1906.
Pierpont Morgan became a ruler of Wall Street after saving the US Treasury from defaulting in 1895. He was key in the creation of US Steel. He agreed to finance a merger involving Atlantic Transport Company to build six new ships and the sale of stock. Morgan wanted to buy the Cunard Line but was refused. In 1902, Morgan bought White Star Line. Ismay stayed as Director but had to move to New York.


research help: ' Voyagers of the Titanic' by Richard Davenport-Hines


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric