ss Great Britain Timeline - The "The First Great Liner"

ss Great Britain Timeline - The "First Great Liner"

1839: The Great Western dry dock is dug, and construction begins on the ss Great Britain.
1840: The British postal service is introduced. The world's first postage stamp, the Penny Black is issued.; The experimental propeller-driven ship Archimedes visits Bristol. Impressed, the ss Great Britain's builders cancel the ship's paddle wheels.
1841: The full London to Bristol Great Western Railway is opened.
1843: The ss Great Britain is launched on July 19th by Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria.
1844: Morse sends the first electric telegraph message.
1845: Start of the Irish famine.; The ss Great Britain makes her maiden voyage to New York.
1846: Florence Nightingale starts nursing.; The ss Great Britain runs aground on the coast of Ireland.
1849: The ss Great Britain is sold to Gibbs, Bright & Co.
1851: Gold is discovered in Australia.; Gibbs, Bright & Co. refit the ss Great Britain to carry passengers to Australia.