He was the naval architect in charge of the plans for the ocean liner Titanic and perished along with more than 1,500 people when the ship sank on her maiden voyage.

His was ever the friendly greeting and the warm handshake and kind disposition" and one co-worker described him as "diligent to the point of strenuousness".

The couple honeymooned in Switzerland and lived at Dunallan, 12 Windsor Avenue, Belfast, now numbered 20,[3][4] and worshipped at First Presbyterian Church on Rosemary Street.

"[7][8] During the maiden voyage of RMS Olympic, Andrews and Ismay made selected notes on what could be improved upon Titanic.

She even felt that, in some way, Andrews managed to impact some of his positive personality into the ships he had designed and helped build.

"[12] According to Edward Wilding, when the ship made its way to Southampton, Andrews "ceaselessly employed going round with representatives of the owners and of the Firm, in taking notes and preparing reports of work still to be done."

At Southampton, Andrews was up early on April 4, left the South Western Hotel where he was staying, and spent the day "with managers and foremen putting work in hand".

On Thursday evening, he wrote to his wife, "I wired you this morning of our safe arrival after a very satisfactory trip.

He would himself put in their place such things as racks, tables, chairs, berth ladders, electric fans, saying that except he saw everything right he could not be satisfied.

"[13] On April 9, Andrews wrote to his wife, "The Titanic is now about complete and will I think do the old Firm credit to-morrow when we sail."

When the ship nearly collided with the liner SS City of New York, Andrews thought that the situation was "decidedly unpleasant".

A few hours later, the Titanic called at Cherbourg Harbour in north-western France, and Andrews wrote to his wife, "We reached here in nice time and took on board quite a number of passengers...the weather is fine and everything shaping for a good voyage."

On April 11, Third Class Steward John E. Hart recalled that at some point during the day, there was a general bulkhead inspection.

He saw Andrews and Chief Officer Henry Tingle Wilde checking to make sure that the crew would close the watertight doors manually.

Albert and Vera Dick saw Andrews who said "that he was going below to investigate...he knew the ship as no one else did and that he might be able to allay the fear of the passengers".

Saloon Steward James Johnstone saw Andrews race down to E Deck, seemingly heading towards the Engine Room, to help examine the damage; he reassured some First Class Ladies.

Andrews determined that the first five of the ship's sixteen watertight compartments were rapidly flooding, more than the four that the vessel was supposed to withstand.

He was seen by First Class passenger Anna Warren rushing up the Grand Staircase on D Deck, taking the steps three at a time, with a "look of terror" on his face.

Passenger William Sloper saw Andrews rushing up the staircase on A Deck, hurrying towards the bridge, "worried".

Andrews may have relayed the information to Captain Smith on the bridge, adding that in his opinion, the vessel had only about an hour and a half before foundering.

Etches re-joined Andrews on C Deck, and proceeded to the first class entrance and forward grand staircase.

When Chief Purser McElroy told them he wanted passengers to put lifebelts on, Andrews said, "That is exactly what I have been trying to get them to do"; he left to go down the stairs to D Deck.

[24] In his 1955 book A Night to Remember, Walter Lord suggested that Andrews was staring at a Norman Wilkinson painting over the fireplace that depicted the entrance to Plymouth Sound, which Titanic had been expected to visit on her return voyage.

An unnamed officer reportedly saw Andrews throwing deck chairs overboard for people to use as floatation devices.

[27] On 19 April 1912, his father received a telegram from his mother's cousin, who had spoken with survivors in New York: "INTERVIEW WITH TITANIC'S OFFICERS.

Mary Sloan later wrote in a letter: "Mr. Andrews met his fate like a true hero, realising the great danger, and gave up his life to save the women and children of the Titanic.

In his home town, Comber, one of the earliest and most substantial memorials for a single victim of the Titanic disaster was built.

The hall is now maintained by the South Eastern Education Board and used by The Andrews Memorial Primary School.

An Ulster History Circle blue plaque is located on his house in Windsor Avenue, Belfast.