43. Alexander Carlisle - Titanic's Designer
Summary
This episode of Witness Titanic features the testimony of Alexander Carlisle, the often-overlooked designer of the Olympic-class ships. Carlisle reveals he proposed davits capable of holding up to 64 lifeboats, but White Star Line installed only 20 to meet minimal regulations. The host analyzes Carlisle’s attempts to deflect blame onto owners and outdated laws, contrasting his historical erasure with Thomas Andrews’ celebrated legacy.
Topics discussed
Sponsor message for Happy GLP care
Introduction: The night the Titanic sank
Podcast update and Patreon promotion
Why Alexander Carlisle is forgotten by history
Alexander Carlisle's biography and career
Carlisle vs. Andrews: Who designed the Titanic?
Thomas Andrews' role and historical narrative
Lifeboat standards and expectations in 1912
Carlisle's forward-thinking lifeboat plans
The special davit design for multiple boats
Launching capacity and potential survival rates
White Star Line's decision on boat count
Contradiction between Carlisle and J. Bruce Ismay
Carlisle's testimony on advising White Star
Blame shifting and the Board of Trade regulations
Sponsor message for Happy GLP care
The 1911 Board of Trade advisory committee
Carlisle's compromise and signing the report
Carlisle's legacy and safety contributions
Carlisle's political views and eccentricities
Teaser for next episode: James Pirrie
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