248 



The Revikvv of RiiviKvvs. 



His speciality, which he has carried almost to the 

 point of genius, was a magnetic talent for persuading 

 people to entrust him with orders. But in this, as in 

 much else, he preferred solitude to company. He 

 always dealt with those with whom he did business 

 " between four eyes." Two's company and three's 

 none ; and of his exploits in persuading reluctant pur- 

 chasers to agree to his own terms there are no eye- 

 witnesses. Said one who knew him well : " Those who 

 met Lord Pirrie for the first time were quite confident 

 that they would have no difficulty in besting the 

 apparently guileless, innocent gentleman who ushered 

 them into his office. But no matter who they were, 

 they all came out shorn." This Svengah-like gift of 

 fascination has done wonders for Harland and Wolff. 

 The firm always gave its customers good value for their 

 money, but Lord Pirrie it was who persuaded them that 

 it would be so. H he had the innocence of the dove, he 

 also was as wise as a serpent ; and the impression of his 

 wisdom lingered last. 



HIS PUBLIC LIFE. 



Lord Pirrie has devoted considerable attention to 

 public life. In 1896-7 he was Lord Mayor of Belfast. 

 They were memorable years in the history of the city, 

 and Belfast testified its admiration of his character 

 by making him its first honorary freeman — Lady 

 Pirrie was subsequently rnade a sharer in the Freedom 

 of the City. His Lord Mayoralty was distinguished 

 not only by his public-spirited enterprise in municipal 

 affairs and his hospitality, but by his generous senti- 

 ment towards all men, so that in a city hitherto noted 

 for religious differences all creeds and classes were 

 drawn closer together. During his term of office the 

 city boundaries were greatly extended and Catholics 

 ensured admittance to the Council. 



Aided by his wife. Lord Pirrie was instrumental in 

 furthering the erection of a large new hospital, the 

 Royal Victoria, in celebration of the Diamond Jubilee 

 of Queen Victoria. He personally supervised the 

 design and construction of this building, which is 

 one of the most scientifically-constructed and best- 

 equipped institutions of the kind in the world. 



He has taken an active part in the municipal affairs 

 of Belfast, and served in 1896-7 as Lord Mayor. His 

 election was a well-earned tribute to the man of whom 

 Lord Dufferin said : — " He is a man who by his talents 

 and indefatigable exertions has so stimulated the 

 activity of his town that he has lifted it from its former 

 comparatively inferior position to that of being the 

 liiird greatest commercial city in the whole Empire." 



A GREAT IRISHMAN. 



His zeal for the development of Ireland and Iri.sh 

 industry is by no means confined to Belfast, 'f'ogether 

 with Lord Iveagh lie projected a system of motor-cars 

 l)y which the produce of the country districts of Ireland 

 could be brought to market. He is a great believer in 

 the industrial resources of Ireland and the Irish people. 

 'I'lic Irish emigrate in thousands every year. " This 

 ought not to be," he declared. " Why, Ireland herself 



is ready for commerce." Why should she let her 

 choicest children go hence to foster the commerce of 

 other lands beyond the Empire's limits, when she 

 herself has need of them ? " Ireland is so ripe for 

 commerce that I should be very sorry to advise one of 

 her young men to try his chances abroad while such 

 glorious prospects remain at his own doorstep." When 

 he was a Conservative the Unionists made him a Privy 

 Councillor. The Liberals made him a peer in 1906, 

 and Lord Aberdeen made him Comptroller of the 

 Viceregal household. 



LADY PIRRIE. 



Fortunate in business, he was equally fortunate in 

 marriage. He married Margaret Montgomery, the 

 daughter of John Carlisle, M.A., of Belfast, whose 

 brother, another young man of genius, succeeded Lord 

 Pirrie as head draughtsman. It would not be correct 

 to say that Lord Pirrie was made by the Carlisles, but 

 Lord Pirrie would be the first to admit that without 

 his wife and his brother-in-law he could never have 

 achieved his astonishing success. Lady Pirrie has been 

 in more ways than one the helpmate of his life. Unfor- 

 tunately without children, she has concentrated upon 

 her husband all the wealth of a loving nature and a 

 shrewd and powerful mind. 



Since 1879 Lady Pirrie has been her husband's 

 constant companion, tra\elling round the world and 

 going everywhere with him, has taken a keen interest 

 in everything connected witli the welfare and further- 

 ance of Harland and Wolff's interests, coming into 

 close contact with his ship-owning friends. Their 

 interests are always united, and while he looks 

 after the business part, all who know her recognise 

 that she helps to bind closely together the link 

 between the commercial and social hfe which adds to 

 the success of one's undertakings. 



THE DIRECTOR OF A MIGHTY FLEET. 



Lord Pirrie's shipping interests in 1909 included 

 directorships in the following companies : — 



Steamships. 



British and North Atlantic Steam Navigation Com- 

 pany (Dominion Line) ... ... ... ... II 



Frederick Leyland and Co. ... ... ... ... 36 



International Mercantile Marine Company (Ameri- 

 can Line) ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 



Mississippi and Dominion S.S. Company (Dominion 

 Line) 3 



Oceanic Steam Navigation Company (White Star 

 I'ine) 30 



Wilsons and Furness-Leyland Lines 6 



Total ... ... ... ... 90 



In 1910 he bought the undertakings of the late 

 Sir Alfred Jones. This made him owner of a 

 considerable portion of the following companies : — 



Sleamsliips. 



Kldcr, Dempster .and Co. 



African S.S. Company 



British and African .Steam Navigation Company . 



Elder, Dempster Sliippiii}; Company 



Imperial Direct West India Mail Service Co. 

 Elders and Kyfles, Limited ... 



Total 



. 12 

 . 22 



■ ,S6 

 • 25 

 . 6 

 . 16 



.117 



