Great Eastern Collection

Isambard Kingdom Brunel Standing Before the Launching Chains of the Great Eastern, 1857, printed 1863-64

SS Great Eastern
Isambard Kingdom Brunels steamship the Great Eastern was launched on 31st January 1858 and broken up in 1888. (Photo by James Valentine/Getty Images)

Great Eastern laying transatlantic telegraph cable
Steamship " Great Eastern" attempting to lay telegraph cable across the Atlantic, 1850s. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

Atlantic Cable Laying
Illustration of workers on board the Great Eastern passing out cable for the Trans-Atlantic telegraph cable in July 1866. (Photo by Kean Collection/Getty Images)

Great Eastern on the stocks at Millwall on the Thames, 1857. View from the stern, showing the vessel in John Scott Russells (1808-1882) yard

Isambard Kingdom Brunel, civil engineer, c1850s
Isambard Kingdom Brunel, English engineer, c1850s. Brunel surrounded by vignettes of some of his most significant projects - the steamships Great Eastern, Great Britain

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3359126 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331062 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331055 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331053 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331050 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great eastern' steamship used to lift the Atlantic telegraph cable, 1866
3478949 The 'Great eastern' steamship used to lift the Atlantic telegraph cable, 1866; (add.info.: The 'Great eastern' steamship used to lift the Atlantic telegraph cable)

Testing the 1865 Atlantic telegraph cable on board the Great Eastern, 1866
3478944 Testing the 1865 Atlantic telegraph cable on board the Great Eastern, 1866; (add.info.: Testing the 1865 Atlantic telegraph cable on board the Great Eastern 17 August 1866)

The Atlantic telegraph message being received from the Great Eastern in the instrument room in Valencia, 1870
3478892 The Atlantic telegraph message being received from the Great Eastern in the instrument room in Valencia, 1870; (add.info)

King Edward VII visiting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3330985 King Edward VII visiting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3330973 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3330971 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The first marker buoy of the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3330072 The first marker buoy of the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3330046 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern, 1850
3330771 The paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration of the paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern)

The paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern, 1850
3359142 The paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration of the paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern)

The paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern, 1850
3330840 The paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration of the paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331079 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331073 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331070 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331064 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331060 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331052 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3330964 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3330597 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great eastern' steamship used to lift the Atlantic telegraph cable, 1866
3478946 The 'Great eastern' steamship used to lift the Atlantic telegraph cable, 1866; (add.info.: The 'Great eastern' steamship used to lift the Atlantic telegraph cable)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3330907 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The steel steam launch built for the 'Great Eastern' by Forrester & Company, 1850
3330766 The steel steam launch built for the 'Great Eastern' by Forrester & Company, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving of the steel stream launch built for the 'Great Eastern' by Forrester)

The making of the steel cables on board the 'Great Eastern', 1850
3330601 The making of the steel cables on board the 'Great Eastern', 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the making of the steel cables on board the 'Great Eastern')

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331086 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331059 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331057 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331048 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great eastern' steamship used to lift the Atlantic telegraph cable, 1866
3478947 The 'Great eastern' steamship used to lift the Atlantic telegraph cable, 1866; (add.info.: The 'Great eastern' steamship used to lift the Atlantic telegraph cable)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3330068 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331082 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331172 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331067 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern, 1850
3330761 The paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration of the paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern)

The paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern, 1850
3330739 The paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration of the paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern)

The paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern, 1850
3330732 The paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern, 1850; (add.info.: Illustration of the paying-out machinery on the deck of the Great Eastern)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331081 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850
3331080 The 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph, 1850; (add.info.: Engraving depicting the 'Great Eastern' used during the creation of the Atlantic)

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"Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the Great Eastern: Pioneering Engineering Marvels of the 19th Century" Step back in time to witness the awe-inspiring legacy of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, as he stands proudly before the launching chains of his masterpiece, the Great Eastern. This monumental steamship, also known as SS Great Eastern, was a true marvel of its time. One of its remarkable achievements was laying the transatlantic telegraph cable, connecting continents like never before. As it rested on the stocks at Millwall on the Thames in 1857, anticipation grew for this colossal vessel that would revolutionize travel and communication. Brunel himself, a visionary civil engineer from the cusp of modernity in the 1850s, oversaw every intricate detail. His genius is immortalized through captivating images such as him leaning against a chain drum at Millwall or captured within a longitudinal cross-section diagram showcasing Leviathan's grandeur. In June 1860, with Southampton bidding farewell to her first voyage, The Great Eastern embarked on an adventure that would forever change maritime history. Its sheer size and capabilities astounded all who witnessed it; even decades later in 1886 when it continued to captivate audiences. The SS Great Eastern became synonymous with innovation and progress during an era defined by technological breakthroughs. It symbolized mankind's relentless pursuit to conquer new frontiers - be it traversing vast oceans or bridging nations through telegraphic connections. Today we remember Isambard Kingdom Brunel's extraordinary creation - The Great Eastern - as an engineering marvel that pushed boundaries beyond imagination. Its legacy lives on as a testament to human ingenuity and serves as inspiration for future generations striving towards greatness.