Unsinkable page 2

Unsinkable page 2 by ric Gustafson


In the summer of 1907, a Daimler Benz pulled up to 27 Chelsea Street in London. A chauffeur ushered Mr and Mrs Joseph Bruce Ismay inside. They were to be the dinner guests of Lord and Lady Pirrie. Ismay was the Managing Director of the White Star Line and Lord Pirrie was the senior partner and Chairman of the Board of Harland and Wolff which was a Belfast shipyard.
Joseph Bruce Ismay was the son of Thomas H Ismay who was one of the greatest shipping magnates.Thomas Ismay acquired the flag of the White Star Line in 1867. The elder Ismay knew that profits could come from the North Atlantic passenger runs. In 1870, the elder Ismay formed a partnership with Harland and Wolff of Belfast to build a fleet of iron steamships.
The start of Harland and Wolff started in the 1840's when the Victoria Channel was dredged. The shipyard was built on the new Queen's Island and was called Hickson and Company. Edward J Harland bought out Hickson and in 1862, the yard was known as Harland and Wolff. Gustav Wolff was the nephew of Gustavus Schwabe a Hamburg financier. Schwabe loaned Harland the money to buy off Hickson. Harland and Wolff's reputation as complete shipbuilders began to take shape.


research help: ' Unsinkable' by Daniel Allen Butler


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric