Second Royal Albert Truss Floated
The second main span is floated into the Tamar to complete the paired crossing arrangement.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Isambard Kingdom Brunel Biography and Timeline — Page 12
Follow Isambard Kingdom Brunel through 477 dated historical records for Great Britain.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
477Distinct records
12 of 12Page
1858–1937Years on this page
1858
Great Eastern Hull Finally Floated
After prolonged and difficult launch attempts the huge steamship entered the water in January.
1859
Royal Albert First Test Train Crosses
A South Devon locomotive makes the first test crossing of Brunel's Royal Albert Bridge.
Royal Albert Bridge
The Royal Albert Bridge passes its official Board of Trade inspection and load tests.
Royal Albert Bridge
Prince Albert formally opens the Royal Albert Bridge, although illness prevents Brunel from attending.
Royal Albert Bridge
Public railway services begin across the Royal Albert Bridge as the Cornwall Railway opens through Saltash.
Stroke
Brunel suffers a severe stroke shortly before the first sea trials of SS Great Eastern.
Death of Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Isambard Kingdom Brunel dies at the age of fifty-three after a career transforming railways, bridges, tunnels and ships.
Brunel Crosses Saltash Bridge
The crossing marks completion of one of his final major bridge projects.
Cornwall Railway Connection Completed
Completion of the Tamar crossing allows the Cornwall Railway to connect directly with the South Devon broad-gauge network.
First Crossing of Royal Albert Bridge
Crosses the completed Royal Albert Bridge while seriously ill.
Royal Albert Bowstring Tubular Principle Completed
Brunel combines tubular compression arches with suspension chains to create the bridge's distinctive bowstring structural system.
Royal Albert Bridge Cost Held below £225000
The completed bridge is recorded as costing under two hundred and twenty-five thousand pounds.
Royal Albert Engineering Inscription Added
The Cornish portal carries the prominent inscription 'I K BRUNEL ENGINEER 1859' as part of the completed bridge.
Royal Albert Main Spans Set at 135 Metres
The completed bridge uses two principal spans of about 135 metres each across the navigable Tamar.
Royal Albert Navigation Clearance Achieved
The bridge provides the high navigation clearance demanded by the Admiralty while carrying the railway across the Tamar.
Royal Albert Seventeen Approach Spans Completed
Seventeen approach spans connect Brunel's two main river spans with the railway on both banks.
Three Bridges Engineering Work
The structure becomes one of Brunel's rare surviving iron bridges.
Windmill Bridge Opens
Completes the combined road, rail and canal crossing known as Windmill Bridge.
Brunel Dies Before Clifton Completion
Brunel died before the suspension bridge designed under his direction could carry passengers across the Avon Gorge.
Great Eastern Machinery Trials Prepared
Engineers readied the vessel's steam machinery ahead of its first substantial sea trials.
Brunel Suffers Stroke Before Sea Trial
Brunel became gravely ill shortly before the immense vessel he had designed undertook sea trials.
1860
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Chains from Brunel's dismantled Hungerford Suspension Bridge are purchased for use in completing the Clifton bridge.
Great Western Ocean Steamship Legacy Recognised
The Great Western became an important early example of using large purpose built steamships for regular Atlantic travel.
1862
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Construction restarts under a revised design by William Henry Barlow and John Hawkshaw.
1864
Clifton Suspension Bridge
The Clifton Suspension Bridge opens to the public as a memorial to Brunel five years after his death.
Clifton Suspension Bridge
The completed structure is tested by placing about five hundred tons of stone across the bridge deck.
1876
Final Australian Service Concludes
The iron ship designed by Brunel made its final return to Liverpool from Australian passenger service and was laid up.
1881
New Owners Acquire Great Britain
Commercial owners purchased Great Britain for a new working life as a cargo carrying sailing ship.
1882
Steam Engines Removed From Vessel
The vessel was converted to sail only service and its steam machinery was removed for cargo operations.
Coal Cargo Trade To California Begins
Great Britain entered sailing ship service transporting coal around Cape Horn toward San Francisco.
1883
California Return Trade Carries Wheat
The vessel served the transoceanic cargo trade by returning with grain after delivering coal to California.
1886
Cape Horn Storm Dismasts Vessel
A violent storm damaged Great Britain and stripped away masts during an attempted cargo voyage around Cape Horn.
Damaged Ship Seeks Falklands Refuge
After storm damage Great Britain reached the Falkland Islands rather than continuing its planned cargo voyage.
Cargo Sailing Career Ends
Damage sustained near Cape Horn ended the vessel career as a seagoing cargo ship.
1887
Hulk Serves As Floating Store
Great Britain entered a prolonged period of use as a stationary storage hulk at Port Stanley.
1937
Historic Iron Hull Abandoned In Sparrow Cove
Great Britain was deliberately settled in shallow water at Sparrow Cove after years of work as a storage hulk.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.