'Great Eastern' on the stocks at Millwall on the Thames, 1857. Artist: Unknown

'Great Eastern' on the stocks at Millwall on the Thames, 1857. Artist: Unknown

1-158-702 - Oxford Science Archive/Heritage Images

'Great Eastern' on the stocks at Millwall on the Thames, 1857. Broadside view from the river showing the vessel in John Scott Russell's (1808-1882) yard. Double-hulled, of all iron construction, and powered by four steam engines driving both paddle wheels and screw propeller, the 'Great Eastern' was intended for the passenger trade between Britain and Australia and India. After a few troubled passenger voyages she was sold for £25,000, a fraction of the building cost of probably £500,000, and converted to a cable laying ship. In this role she was used in laying the Atlantic Telegraph Cable in 1865-1866, and other similar projects. The 'Great Eastern' was Isambard Kingdom Brunel's (1806-1859) last great project. He collapsed on her deck on her launch in 1858 and died a few days later. From The Illustrated London News. (London, 7 November 1857).


Image Details


People Information

Creator
  1. Unknown, attributed to: :
People Related
  1. Isambard Kingdom Brunel: British: Engineer, designer, inventor
  2. John Scott Russell: British: Civil engineer

Medium
  1. Chromolithograph

Category Hierarchy

Lifestyle & Leisure Transport & Travel

Science & Nature Technology & Innovation

Trade & Industry Shipping Industry

Locations & Buildings Other


Digital Image Size

Pixel Dimensions (W x H) : 4843x3606
File Size : 51,164kb


Aliases

  1. 9132
  1. 0460001280
  1. 1-158-702
  1. 1158702
  1. 1280
  1. 9132

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