In 1907, the "Gilded Age" was in full swing. Industry and commerce were at their all highest in western history. Income tax would not be implemented for another 7 years and people believed that they could outdo God himself. Innovations of the automobile and the airplane had begun to take shape. Everyone believed that things could only get better.

On a summer night in 1907, a dream to build the most fantastic ships ever conceived was started in London. J. Bruce Ismay, managing director of White Star Line was meeting with Lord James Pirrie, a partner in the firm of Harland and Wolff-the giant Belfast shipbuilder that built all of the White Star Line vessels.

These two men fought aside one another for control of the Atlantic passenger trade.

The White Star Line was purchased in 1867 by Thomas Henry Ismay for the sum of 1000 pounds. With this purchase he intended to redirect the bankrupt company's attention from Austrailian trade to the North Atlantic passenger trade. He was supported and encouraged by Gustav Schwabe, a Liverpool financer and uncle of Gustav Wolff, Jr., partner at Harland and Wolff.

A promise to bankroll White Star Line was guaranteed to Ismay by Schwabe, if he ordered his new ships from his nephew's yard. Along with George Fletcher, a close friend, Ismay agreed to Schwabe's proposal and arrangeed for the construction of 3 vessels of less than 4,000 tons each. During the negotations, 3 more ships were added to the order. A final agreement was reached on July 30, 1869.

The first ship, Oceanic was so successful, she was referred to as the "new leviathan" and today as the "the mother of modern liners." Togehter with her sister ships Atlantic, Baltic, Republic, Celtic, and Adriatic, she formed the foundation for the relationship between White Star Line and Harland and Wolff.

White Star Line soon became the benchmark for all other shipping lines.

In 1891, Thomas' eldest son, J. Bruce Ismay was admitted into the partnership, and a year later Thomas retired. Bruce Ismay and younger brother James were in control when the decision was made to build all future vessels with luxury and comfort in mind rather than speed.

Control of White Star Line passed from its British stockholders when it was purchased in 1902 by International Mercantile Marine Company(IMM), created by J. Piermont Morgan. The take over influenced the retirements of 3 partners: William Imrie, James Ismay, and W.S. Graves. Bruce Ismay, Harold Sanderson, and William Pirrie, managing director and chairman of Harland and Wolff, remained

Bruce, at age 41, was named Presdent and managing director of IMM in 1904-with unlimited control. And that summer night in 1907, they set in motion a dream of constructing 2 ships of unmatched size, luxery, and speed. The third ship was added later.

The first two were to be named Olympic and Titanic, the latter name chosen by Ismay to convey a sense of overwhelming size and strength.