Born in Quebec on 31 May 1847, William James Pirrie became the head of the biggest shipbuilding concern in the world.

Pirrie’s family originated from Co. Down and his parents moved to Canada in the mid-1840s. After the death of his father, Pirrie and his mother returned to Ireland and he enrolled at Belfast Royal Academical Institution.

Pirrie started work aged fifteen as an office boy in the draughting department at Queen’s Island Shipyard, owned by Harland & Wolff. In 1874, Pirrie was appointed as partner in the firm and he became its chairman on the death of Sir Edward Harland. Under Pirrie’s direction the firm topped the list on seven occasions for the world’s greatest output during the year. The whole White Star fleet of liners were built at the Queen’s Island shipyard and the launch of Olympic, Titanic and Britannic represent the height of Pirrie’s fame.

In addition to holding the position of Lord Mayor, Pirrie acted as High Sheriff of Antrim (1898) and Down (1899), and as Lord Lieutenant of Belfast (1911-1924). During the First World War, Pirrie was appointed Director of Shipbuilding by the Government and oversaw the secret construction of battle-cruisers. He was appointed a Privy Councillor for Ireland in 1897 and was made a Viscount in 1918.

Pirrie died, aged seventy-eight, onboard the Belfast-built P&O liner ‘Ebro’ when it was passing through the Panama Canal, on 7 June 1924.