In the summer of 1907, English papers were filled with articles on the impending voyage of the Lusitania, owned by the Cunard line, and her soon-to-be completed sister-ship, Mauretania. At this time Cunard, White Star Line's arch rival, could boast of the largest, fastest, and most beautiful ships to grace the waters. This prospect did not sit well with J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of the White Star Line. So, one evening while at dinner at the Belgravia Mansion of Lord William Pirre, talk resumed as to what would be the next move of the White Star Line. After all, Lord Pirre was responsible for the remarkable success of the Belfast shipbuilders, Harland & Wolff, who built all of the WSL ships. Legend has it that over cigars and brandy, the two men sat down and sketched plans for two ships so grand, and unprecedented in size. These ships would be bigger than any British shipyard could build. Comfort and luxury would be concentrated on more than speed. Twin reciprocating engines, the largest in the world, and a small low-pressure turbine, would still make these ships capable of undertaking the crossing from Southampton to New York in less than a week. They would be built side by side in the Belfast shipyard, ranging in size from almost 900 feet long and 220 feet high, with four funnels instead of three. They would be called Olympic and Titanic. In July of 1908, the authorization for construction was given for both of these great liners.
Olympic's first ocean crossing was on the 14th of June 1911, under the command of Captain Edward J. Smith, and she performed flawlessly. She then made several more crossings, but on the 20th of September 1911, she collided with the Royal Navy cruiser, HMS Hawke. Both ships sustained serious damge. Captain Smith commanded the Olympic on nine voyages before assuming command of the Titanic in 1912.
The departure of Titanic on her maiden voyage the 10th of April 1912 was not as ceremonious as that of her sister-ship, Olympic. However, her first class passenger list was considered to be stunning. Passengers such as John Jacob Astor IV (one of America's wealthiest men) and Benjamin Guggenheim, would be aboard her.
Five days later on the 14th of April, Titanic struck an iceberg, and within two hours and forty minutes, sank beneath the icy waters of the Atlantic. More than 1,500 lives were lost on a tragic April morning, and the arrogance of mankind during the Ewardian era, undoubtedly played a vital role in the sinking of this beautiful, grand ship. The repercussions of the loss of Titanic were both immediate and lasting.