The SS Great Eastern was a steam-powered ship designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859) which sailed on its maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York in June 1860. At the time, it was by far the largest passenger ship ever built, a record it would hold for 49 years. Great Eastern laid the first cross-Atlantic telegraph cable in 1866.
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Definition
Timeline
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1 Feb 1858The hull of the SS Great Eastern is floated for the first time.
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Jun 1860SS Great Eastern makes its maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York.
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Sep 1861The SS Great Eastern is badly damaged in a storm.
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Aug 1862The SS Great Eastern runs aground off the U.S. coast.
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1866The SS Great Eastern lays the first transatlantic electrical telegraph cable.
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1888The SS Great Eastern is scrapped.