Comber HistoryThomas Andrews Thomas Andrews Junior was born in Belfast on the 7th February 1873 to the right Honourable Thomas Andrews, and Eliza Pirrie; Thomas was the second of two sons, their first son was John. The Andrews family home is in Ardara, Comber, in Co Down. There are still members of the family still residing in Comber and Belfast. Thomas showed an interest in ships from when he was a small child, he attended the Royal Belfast Academic Institution in 1884 when he was 11 years old. When he finished his education there, he attended an apprenticeship at Harland and Wolff. Throughout Thomas’ apprenticeship is was clear that he had a great aptitude for mechanical engineering and construction, also his increasing leadership skills singled him out for a bright future. He became a member of the institution of Naval Architects in 1901, eventually securing a position as the firms managing director. In 1907 Harland and Wolff attained the biggest project they ever undertook i.e. the construction of the Olympic Class Liners; most notably the Titanic. Thomas also headed Harland and Wolff’s Guarantee Group, an elite collection of nine of the best men in their field who would accompany the vessel on her maiden voyage to make sure that all went well and to note any faults on the ship. However, Thomas did not return from the Titanic’s maiden voyage, he chose to remain on his ship as she sank.
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