Afterwards he was employed in jobs in Glasgow and again in Newcastle, before moving to Belfast in 1854 to manage Robert Hickson's shipyard at Queen's Island.

[1] His antecedent brother died as an infant;[1] Edward Harland is described as the sixth child in the family by alternative sources.

[1] Schwabe arranged for Harland to be employed at J. and G. Thomson marine engineers in Glasgow, who were shipbuilding for John Bibby, after he completed his apprenticeship.

In December 1854, Harland moved to Belfast with Schwabe's encouragement,[8] and was employed as manager of Robert Hickson's shipyard in Queen's Island.

[4][7] Here, Harland became known for strict management and improving workmanship, by cutting wages and banning smoking;[3] he also carried a piece of chalk and an ivory ruler, used for marking mistakes.

In a flash the trapdoor was lifted and there squatting in the sawdust was a wizened little man, puffing at clay pipe Harland was able to keep the shipyard running despite the owner's financial problems.

[9] But on 21 September 1858,[9] Robert Hickson wrote to him: I offer you my interest and goodwill in the shipyard at the Queen's Island, Belfast...for the sum of five thousand pounds...With the financial assistance of Gustav Schwabe,[10] Harland purchased the business and on 1 November 1858, Edward James Harland and Company was created.

[1] Harland's designing skills created ships with flatter bottoms and squarer bilges to increase capacity.

[4] According to Edward Harland's obituary in The Times, he designed his company's ocean liners "on the model of a fish swimming through the water.

"[11] Harland's company received orders during the American Civil War from the Confederate States of America, who bought fast steamers to evade the Union blockade.

[9] Harland was once asked the nature of the three men's business relationship and replied: Well, Wolff designs the ships, Pirrie sells them and I smoke the firm's cigars.

[1] As a member of the Conservative and Unionist Party,[10] he served as Mayor of Belfast in 1885 and 1886,[7] and strongly opposed the 1886 Home Rule Bill.