Brunel's ss Great Britain

1852

The ss Great Britain sails on her first of 32 voyages to Australia.

1854

Outbreak of the Crimean War.

1855

Henry Bessemer patents a process for producing steel.

The ss Great Britain carries 44,000 troops to the Crimean War.

1857

The ss Great Britain carries troops from Ireland to India.

1858

First Transatlantic telegraph cable is laid.

1859

Darwin publishes The "Origin of Species".

Death of Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

1861

American Civil War begins.

A mock trial is held on board the ship to debate slavery in the USA. The ship carries the first All-England cricket team to play in Australia.

1863

The London Underground, the world's first underground railway opens.

1869

Suez canal opened.

1872

Captain Gray disappears from the ship in mid ocean.

1873

Mother Mary Mulquin, an Irish nun, writes a diary on board the ship.

1876

Alexander Graham Bell patents the first telephone.

The ss Great Britain makes her last trip to Australia as a passenger ship.

 

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