April 14, 1912 will go down in history as the day disaster struck. It was the day the RMS Titanic hit an iceberg which, after just four hours, caused it to sink to the bottom of the ocean, taking 1,500 people with it. But it wasn't just one thing that caused this tragedy, and although many individuals and events led to the sinking of the Titanic, the person most responsible for the sinking of that ship was Bruce Ismay. He chose not to put enough lifeboats on the Titanic, urged the captain to ensure that the ship maintained its speed when passing through the ice fields, and authorized the use of cheap materials and watertight compartments that did not reach high enough. lots of competition to see who could cross the Atlantic Ocean the fastest. Bruce Ismay, president of the White Star Line, wanted to prove that his company could cross the Atlantic in six days. So he pressured Captain EJ Smith not to slow down as they crossed a field of ice. A book about the Titanic was published in 2008, titled What Really Sank the Titanic: New Forensic Discoveries, and mentioned the competition the White Star Line had with other companies, particularly the Cunard Line. On page ten it is said that Cunard's transformation of the 20th century ocean liners gained support and popularity, and robbed the White Star Line of its fame. He then stated that "under pressure from the success of Cunard's masterpiece and speculation about the lucrative future of German companies, Lord Pirrie, director of Harland and Wolff, and Bruce Ismay, managing director of White Star Line, came to the table to devise a counterattack, the scale and magnificence of which would guarantee headlines. search&p_queryname=3&p_docnum=7&p_docref=v2:11210D409F608820>. primary source McCarty, Jennifer Hooper and Tim Foecke. What Really Sank the Titanic: New Forensic Discoveries, 2008. Secondary source Philadelphia Inquirer. is now in New York. White Star Line general manager admits he knew the Titanic was near the ice. Philadelphia Inquirer [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania] April 20, 1912: 1 and 3. InfoWeb.Newbank.com Web May 17 2011. .