Government Addresses Apprenticeship Termination
The British government faced continued parliamentary and public pressure to end compulsory apprenticeship before its originally projected expiry.
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1838 in Great Britain — Page 2
Explore 84 historical events and records for Great Britain in 1838.
Historical records for Great Britain in 1838
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 84 unique records.
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Great Britain Project Begins as City of New York
Early plans for Brunel's second major steamship envisage a wooden paddle vessel initially called City of New York.
Great Western Advertises Direct Atlantic Route
The advertised direct passage under Captain Hosken promised that Great Western would avoid a routine coal stop in Ireland.
Great Western Arrival Demonstrates Ocean Steam
The vessel reached New York after a successful Atlantic passage proving that a large steamship could carry paying passengers.
Great Western Atlantic Passenger Service Launched
The steamship departed Bristol on the voyage that established an important regular transatlantic steam service.
Great Western Cabin Fares Advertised
Contemporary advertisements under Captain Hosken offered cabin passage to New York with provisions included in the fare.
Great Western Coal Endurance Demonstrated
The ship's design showed how a large hull could carry sufficient coal for sustained Atlantic steam navigation.
Great Western Competes With Sirius
Great Western reached New York shortly after Sirius despite having left Britain later and having taken much less time at sea.
Great Western Engine Room Fire Investigated
A fire aboard the vessel shortly before its maiden Atlantic voyage delayed preparations and injured Brunel.
Great Western First Sea Trials Undertaken
Early trials tested the steamship's machinery and handling before the crossing to New York.
Great Western Maiden Voyage Passenger Loss
Many booked passengers cancel after the fire, leaving only a small number aboard when Great Western departs for New York.
Great Western Prepares New York Return
Following the inaugural arrival, Captain Hosken prepared the ship for her first eastbound passage to Britain.
Great Western Returns Across Atlantic
The steamship completed the return journey and demonstrated the practicality of repeated ocean steam crossings.
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Gladstone publishes his first book, "The State in its Relations with the Church", in which he argued that the goal of the state should be to promote and defend the interests of the Church of England
Hungerford River Span Surveyed
Brunel assessed the Thames crossing and the foundation requirements for the proposed suspension structure.
in serial form
Publication of "Oliver Twist". Publication of "Nicholas Nickelby", 1st published in serial form
Inaugural Crossing Wins Speed Recognition
Great Western's first westbound Atlantic crossing established a leading passage time for early transatlantic steamships.
July Eastbound Run Sets Faster Benchmark
Great Western reduced her eastbound Atlantic passage time again during the summer of 1838.
June Atlantic Crossing Improves Westbound Time
During a subsequent 1838 voyage Great Western improved her westbound crossing time as the crew gained ocean steaming experience.
Leigh Road Bridge
Completes the Leigh Road overbridge on the early Great Western Railway.
Machinery Fire Delays Atlantic Departure
A fire around Great Western's machinery during preparations for her inaugural crossing delayed the beginning of service.
Magnetic Meteorological Observations Established
Airy expanded the observatory's programme to include systematic magnetic and weather measurements.
Maidenhead Railway Bridge
Construction of Brunel's low-arched brick railway bridge across the Thames is completed.
Major General
Appointed Major General
Manchester Reformers Organize Anti Corn Campaign
Manchester activists developed the local organization that became the center of the nationwide campaign against the Corn Laws.
Middlegreen Road Bridge
Completes an early Great Western Railway overbridge at Middlegreen Road.
Nelson Memorial Design
Wins the competition to design Nelson's Column.
Nelson's Column
Work begins on plans for Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square.
New York Passenger Booking Service Established
The ship's first arrival allowed operators to advertise and book return accommodation from New York to Bristol.
New York Sailing Notice Names Commander
Public notices identified Lieutenant James Hosken as commander of the steamship's first transatlantic service.
Nicholas Nickelby
Publication of "Oliver Twist". Publication of "Nicholas Nickelby", 1st published in serial form
Oastler Mobilises Short Time Campaign
Richard Oastler encouraged popular agitation for a ten hour working day, particularly on behalf of children and young workers.
Oliver Twist
Publication of "Oliver Twist". Publication of "Nicholas Nickelby", 1st published in serial form
Paddington Broad Gauge Platforms Used
The temporary terminus served trains built to Brunel's unusually wide railway gauge.
Paddington Canal Iron Bridge
Designs an early iron bridge across the Paddington Arm of the canal.
Paddington Canal Iron Bridge Designed
Brunel designed an iron bridge at the Paddington Arm as railway works crossed the canal network.
Paddington Maidenhead Passenger Services Begin
The first public Great Western services operated between Paddington and Maidenhead in June.
Passenger Service Demonstrates Ocean Reliability
Repeated voyages supported the case that steamships could maintain a commercially useful service across the North Atlantic.
Scheduled Atlantic Steam Service Continues
Under Captain Hosken, Great Western continued regular North Atlantic crossings following her successful first round trip.
St Mary's Road Bridge
Completes the St Mary's Road bridge on the Great Western Railway.
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.