SS Great Eastern

The SS Great Eastern was an iron sailing steam ship designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. She was the largest ship ever built at the time of her 1858 launch, and had the capacity to carry 4,000 passengers around the world without refueling. She would only be surpassed in length in 1899 (by the RMS Oceanic, 705 feet and 17,274 gross tons) and in tonnage in 1901 (by the RMS Celtic, 700 feet and 21,035 gross tons). Brunel knew her affectionately as the "great babe". He died shortly after her launch in 1858.