1898 Morgan Robertson writes his novel Futility, or the Wreck of the Titan. 1907, summer months White Star Line's managing director J. Bruce Ismay wants to build two new giant steamers to outstand the Cunard Line in case of luxury and size. He orders Harland and Wolff chairman William Pirrie, head of Harland and Wolff's design department Thomas Andrews and general manager Alexander Carlisle to design the new giants. They regularly send the plans to Ismay for suggestions and approval. July 29th, 1908 Ismay is shown the design of the new Olympic-Class steamers and he agrees.