1852
Great Eastern Long-Range Concept Developed
Brunel develops a huge steamship intended to reach distant destinations without repeatedly stopping to take on coal.
Brunel engineering · permanent subject timeline
SS Great Eastern
Brunel's enormous final steamship. This page combines historical context with 14 matching records drawn directly from the World History Database Brunel chronology.
Historical context
SS Great Eastern: overview and significance
What happened?
SS Great Eastern was conceived as a ship large enough to carry passengers and fuel over very long routes without frequent refuelling. It combined paddle wheels and screw propulsion and was by far the largest ship yet built when launched.
Why was it important?
The project stretched nineteenth-century shipbuilding in scale, structure and launching technique. Commercially troubled as a passenger liner, the vessel later proved valuable for laying transatlantic submarine cables.
World History Database records
SS Great Eastern timeline
The records below are selected from the 361-record Brunel chronology and are rendered as static HTML in chronological order.
1852
1852
SS Great Eastern
Brunel develops the concept of an exceptionally large steamship able to reach distant destinations without refuelling.
1853
1853
Great Eastern Combined Paddle and Screw Propulsion
The Great Eastern is designed with both paddle wheels and a screw propeller driven by separate machinery.
1853
Great Eastern Double-Hull Principle Adopted
Brunel's Great Eastern design uses a double iron hull to provide exceptional structural strength and internal subdivision.
1854
1854 1st May
SS Great Eastern
The keel of SS Great Eastern is laid at John Scott Russell's shipyard in Millwall.
1854
Great Eastern Side-Launch Method Planned
Because of the ship's enormous length and the narrow Thames, Brunel plans to launch Great Eastern sideways.
1855
1855
Great Eastern Five-Funnel Arrangement Developed
The giant steamship is designed with five funnels serving its extensive steam machinery.
1856
1856 January
SS Great Eastern
Work on SS Great Eastern stops temporarily after John Scott Russell's shipbuilding business becomes bankrupt.
1856
Great Eastern Construction Resumes after Financial Crisis
Work continues after disruption caused by John Scott Russell's financial difficulties and bankruptcy.
1857
1857 3rd November
SS Great Eastern
The first attempt to launch SS Great Eastern sideways ends in failure and the death of a worker.
1857 November
Portrait
Robert Howlett photographs Brunel standing before the launching chains of SS Great Eastern.
1857
Great Eastern Launching Chains and Rams Prepared
Brunel prepares heavy chains and hydraulic equipment for the difficult sideways launch of the enormous ship.
1858
1858 31st January
SS Great Eastern
SS Great Eastern is finally floated after repeated and costly launching attempts.
1859
1859 5th September
Stroke
Brunel suffers a severe stroke shortly before the first sea trials of SS Great Eastern.
Editorial provenance
Sources and editorial review
Compiled and edited by World History Database
Historical context is editorial material; the chronology is generated from World History Database Brunel records.
Last reviewed: September 2026.
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