Andrews was born in Comber, Co. Down, into the family that owned well-known linen bleaching firm. His elder brother, John Miller Andrews, became Prime Minister of Northern Ireland between 1940 and 1943. He entered Harland and Wolff's shipyard at the age of sixteen, and studied ship design after his day's work, ending up as the firm's managing director in 1907.

Andrews was chief designer on the Titanic and sailed with the ship in its ill-fated maiden voyage, when he was drowned.

NOTE: There is a permanent Titanic exhibition at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Cultra..

Location of plaque: On his house, No 20 Windsor Avenue, off Lisburn Road, Belfast (now the headquarters of the Irish Football Association).