The most famous ship ever, arguably for all the wrong reasons, there is a continuing fascination with the Titanic and the events that led to its loss. Built at Harland and Wolff as the second of three sisters (Olympic and Britannic being the others) she was unusual for a ship of her size in being launched without ceremony. After several months fitting out, she arrived at Southampton a few minutes after midnight on April 3rd 1912 in preparation for the maiden voyage.
This fine John Stewart painting shows the ship passing Calshot Spit and gaining speed. The journey had already been delayed by over an hour, this being caused by a near collision with the American Line ship New York, which had broken its moorings due to the suction of Titanic’s propellers.
