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William James Pirrie

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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"WILLIAM JAMES PIRRIE, 1ST Viscount (1847-), British shipbuilder and engineer, was born at Quebec May 31 1847, and educated at the Belfast Royal Academic Institution. In 1862 he entered the shipbuilding firm of Messrs. Harland & Wolff of Belfast, and by his industry and talent he rose to be its head, becoming partner in 1874 and later chairman. His success was particularly associated with the building by his firm of the White Star Line steamships, the first of the line, the " Oceanic," being launched in 1870. From 1806 to 1897 he was Lord Mayor of Belfast, and in 1898 the freedom of the city was conferred upon him. In 1 9 06 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Pirrie, and was for a time comptroller of the household of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and pro-chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast. Towards the close of the World War, in 1918, he was made controller-general of merchant shipping. In 1921, on the King's visit to Belfast to inaugurate the new Parliament of Northern Ireland, he was created a viscount.