 |
| Artwork by T.G. Dutton, 1859. Courtesy of the U.S. Navy Art Collection, Washington |
Brunel knew her affectionately as the "Great Babe". He died in 1859 shortly after her maiden voyage, during which she was damaged by an explosion. After repairs, she plied for several years as a passenger liner between Britain and North America before being converted to a cable-laying ship and laying the first lasting transatlantic telegraph cable in 1866. Finishing her life as a floating music hall and advertising hoarding (for the department store Lewis's) in Liverpool, she was broken up on Merseyside in 1889. (Intro from Wikipedia)
December 22, 1853 - London - The final contract for the building of the "Great Eastern", an iron sailing steamship designed by Brunel, is signed by Scott Russell
May 1, 1854 - Isle of Dogs, Millwall, London - The "Great Eastern"'s keel is laid down. The most significant and original engineering feature of the ship was the concept of the double hull for the first time
November 1, 1854 - Isle of Dogs - Charles Geach dies suddenly, aged 46. As well as being a Director of the "Eastern Steam Navigation Company" (ESN) he was also a Director of "Beale and Company" who were to supply the plates for the ship. He had agreed to take a large part of the payments from Russell in shares of ESN., Russell himself receiving part payment in ESN shares
January 1, 1855 - Isle of Dogs - Russell informs Brunel that he was in financial difficulty and his bankers had refused him further credit. Brunel approaches the board and it is agreed that Russell would be paid the amount due to him on his contract in instalments of £8,000 subject to agreement that the necessary work had been completed. This satisfied Martin’s Bank, who were Russell’s main creditors
October 12, 1855 - Isle of Dogs - Russell again contacts Brunel to inform him that his bankers require an immediate payment of £12,000 on his £15,000 overdraft. Brunel authorises a payment of £10,000. A week later Russell again gets in touch with Brunel to say that his bankers wanted the £15,000 and would not be satisfied with the offer of £10,000. Russell makes the point that he was employing a large number of men and he needed the money to pay their wages, or he would have to lay them off. Although true quite a number of these men were employed on other ships being built by Russell and not on the "Great Eastern". In all Russell had laid down six ships, some of them in Napier’s yard, one of which was preventing the completion of the stern of the "Great Eastern"
January 1(?), 1856 - Isle of Dogs - William Harrison is selected by the directors of the Eastern Steam Navigation Company out of 200 competitors to take the command of the "Great Eastern"
February 1(?), 1856 - Isle of Dogs - Brunel advises the Eastern Company that they should take possession of the "Great Eastern" to avoid it being seized by Scott Russell's creditors
February 4, 1856 - Isle of Dogs - Russell suspends all payments to his creditors and a week later dismisses all his workmen
February 12, 1856 - Isle of Dogs - A meeting is held by Russell’s creditors, at which it is disclosed that Russell had liabilities of £122,940 and assets of £100,353. It is decided that existing contracts would be allowed to run to completion and the business would be liquidated under the supervision of three inspectors appointed by his creditors. To the board of the ESN he issues a statement, in which he repudiates his contract effectively handing the uncompleted ship back to the company. This from the man who had received a total of £292,295 including extra payments for additional work from ESN and yet when the situation was reviewed it was found that three quarters of the work on the hull had not been completed and there was a deficiency of 1,200 tons in the amount of iron supplied and that used on the ship. Out of the original estimate for the construction of the hull only £40,000 had not been paid to Russell
May 1(?), 1856 - Isle of Dogs - Work on the ship recommences in May
September 1(?), 1857 - Isle of Dogs - Last plates riveted
November 3, 1857 - Isle of Dogs - Unsucessful launch of the "Great Eastern" as the steam winches and manual capstans used to haul the ship towards the water were not up to the job
November 19, 1857 - Isle of Dogs - Unsucessful attempt to launch the "Great Eastern" using hydraulic rams to move the ship
November 28, 1857 - Isle of Dogs - Unsucessful attempt to launch the "Great Eastern" using hydraulic rams to move the ship
December 2, 1857 - Isle of Dogs - Attempted launch with Prince Albert and Prince of Wales in attendance
December 5, 1857 - Isle of Dogs - Visit from Princess Royal, the Duchess of Atholl, Marquis of Stafford and Sir Joseph Paxton (designer of the Crystal Palace)
January 31, 1858 - Isle of Dogs - The "Great Eastern" is launched sideways, aided by an unusually high tide and strong winds and using more powerful hydraulic rams =(START)
January 31, 1859 - Isle of Dogs - Work on the "Great Eastern" is completed
August 1(?), 1859 - Isle of Dogs - The "Great Eastern" begins being fitted out
September 5, 1859 - Isle of Dogs - Isambard Kingdom Brunel suffers a stroke on the foredeck of the "Great Eastern"
September 6, 1859 - Isle of Dogs - Departs to Weymouth for sea trials
September 9, 1859 - Off Hastings - Off Hastings on 9 September 1859, a massive boiler explosion kills eight of the firemen and seriously injures several others. Harrison shows prompt courage and resource, and takes the vessel into Portland, although in a very damaged state. The "Great Eastern" is then put into winter quarters near Hurst Castle
September 10, 1859 - Portland, Dorset - The ship arrives in Portland. The dead are carried off and the wounded transported to hospital
October 8, 1859 - Portland - Date of first scheduled departure for New York but not met
October 15, 1859 - Portland - After repairs, the "Great Eastern" departs to Holyhead
October 17, 1859 - Holyhead, NW Wales - Arrives at Holyhead, the ship's planned homeport. It is opened for visitors
October 24, 1859 - Holyhead - During the night of 24th-25th, the harbour breakwater is damaged by a storm and it is thought safer to operate the ship from Southampton
November 2, 1859 - Holyhead - Departs for Southampton
November 3, 1859 - Longships Lighthouse (SW tip of Great Britain) | The Lizard - The "Great Eastern" passes Longships Lighthouse and after two hours, the Lizard
November 4, 1859 - Southampton - Arrives in Southampton. The ship is opened for paying visitors
January 21, 1860 - While in Southampton - While setting out in the ship's boat from Hythe to Southampton docks, Captain William Harrison gives the order to drop sail. However, a sudden squall catches it and capsizes the boat. Captain Harrison and two others are drowned. He is succeeded by Captain John Vine
June 10, 1860 - South of the Isle of Wight - Trial trip to check for problems with the paddle engine boilers, which are replaced with iron lattice work
June 14, 1860 - Southampton - The passangers board the "Great Eastern"
June 17, 1860 - Southampton - "Great Eastern" departs for New York with only 35 paying passengers
June 28, 1860 - Sandy Hook, near New York - Arrives at Sandy Hook near New York. Sight seeing in New York
July 3, 1860 - New York - The ship opens to the public at $1 a head but only 1,500 of the vast crowds paid to go aboard on the first day
July 11, 1860 - New York - After a week the price drops to 50 cents
July 30, 1860 - New York - By July 30th, over 140,000 had visited the ship
July 31, 1860 - New York - Departs for an excursion to Cape May. 2,000 people buy tickets at $10 a head
August 1, 1860 - Off Cape May, New Jersey - Arrives off Cape May. Many things go wrong and the excursion is a bad experience for most of the passengers
August 4, 1860 - Off Annapolis, Cheasapeake Bay - Excursion to Cheasapeake Bay, off Annapolis
August 9, 1860 - Off Annapolis, Cheasapeake Bay - US President Buchanan pays a 2-hour visit to the ship
August 12, 1860 - New York - Returns to New York
August 16, 1860 - New York - The "Great Eastern" sets sail to Halifax, Nova Scotia, with 102 passengers on board
August 18, 1860 - Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - The "Great Eastern" arrives in Halifax, Nova Scotia
August 19, 1860 - Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - The "Great Eastern" departs to England with 72 passengers on board
August 28, 1860 - Milford Haven, Wales - Returns to Great Britain in 9 days 4 hours with 100 passengers
May 1, 1861 - Milford Haven, Wales - The boat taking the passengers to the "Great Eastern" runs aground and they and their luggage have to be rescued by small boats. After the delay, the ship departs to New York with only 100 paying passengers
May 4, 1861 - North Atlantic Ocean - The "Great Eastern" runs into a severe gale. Unscrewed furniture and fittings are thrown around the saloons
May 10, 1861 - New York - Arrives in New York after a voyage of 9 days and 13 hours, but virtually unnoticed due to the American Civil War. When it is opened to the public at 25 cents a head there is little interest
May 25, 1861 - New York - Departs to Milford Haven with 194 passengers and 5,000 tons of wheat
June 3, 1861 - Liverpool - The "Great Eastern" arrives in Liverpool
June 10(?), 1861 - Birkenhead - The ship is chartered by the British Government to transport troops to Canada. The necessary modifications are carried out at Birkenhead Iron Works
June 25, 1861 - Liverpool - The "Great Eastern" departs to Quebec with the 4/60th Rifles, consisting of 2,144 officers and men, 473 women and children, and 200 horses, along with 40 paying passengers
July 2, 1861 - Off Cape Race, Newfoundland - The ship runs into fog and nearly hits the Cunard liner "Arabia" off Cape Race
July 6, 1861 - Quebec, Canada - Arrives in Quebec. The ship remains closed to the public until July 17th for cleaning and maintenance
July 17, 1861 - Quebec - "Great Eastern" opens for visitors for 50 cents
July 31, 1861 - Quebec - Visits to the ship are closed
August 6, 1861 - Quebec - "Great Eastern" departs for England with 357 paying passengers.
August 16(?), 1861 - Liverpool - Returns to Liverpool. Captain Kennedy leaves command of the ship
September 10, 1861 - Liverpool - The "Great Eastern" departs for New York, commanded by Captain James Walker, with full complement of 400 passengers
September 11, 1861 - Irish Sea (between Wales and Ireland) - "On her second day out the wind increased to gale force, causing the ship to roll heavily. The port paddle wheel was completely lost, and the starboard paddle wheel smashed to pieces when one of the lifeboats broke loose. At the same time it was discovered that the cast iron rudder post, which was 11 inches (280 mm) in diameter, had sheared off 2 ft (0.61 m) above its collar and the rudder was swinging free and hitting the screw, which was slowly breaking it up.
Captain Walker ordered his officers to say nothing to the passengers concerning the situation, then had a trysail hoisted which was immediately ripped apart by the wind. He then had a four-ton spar thrown overboard secured with a hawser to try to bring some control to the ship, but it only worked for a short while before being torn away.
By the end of the second day some of the passengers had an idea as to the predicament they were in and formed a committee chaired by Liverpool shipping merchant George Oakwood. The captain agreed to meet Oakwood and allowed him to inspect the ship. What he found was far worse than had been expected: none of the cargo had been stowed properly and it was all rolling loose in the holds. Hamilton E. Towle, an American civil engineer, who was returning to the States after completing his contract working as a supervising engineer on the Danube River dry-docks in Austria, visited the rudder room and after inspecting the damage came up with a plan to regain control of the rudder.
Towle's scheme was taken to the captain, who failed to act on it. In the evening of the third day, Magnet, a brig from Nova Scotia, appeared on the scene. Captain Walker asked her captain if he would stand by. He agreed, but it turned out there was little he could do, and after several hours the brig left, later succeeding in a claim for demurrage from the Great Ship Company for the delay.
Towle now presented his plan to the passengers' committee, and in turn they pressured the captain into letting him try it. Towle had a 100 ft (30 m) chain composed of 60 lb (27 kg) links wound around the rudder post below the break, then secured the ends of the chain to the port and starboard frames of the ship using block and tackle. Two lighter chains were led down from the wheelhouse and attached to the heavy chain and also to the ship's frames. This allowed some limited movement of the rudder, and the ship became steerable again" (from Wikipedia)
September 15, 1861 - Celtic Sea, 480km from Ireland - On the morning of September 15th the storm finally abates. Towle and the passengers committee insist that the Captain try the repaired rudder and eventually the engines are started. After 75 hours of drifting out of control the ship answers the helm and is turned on to a course towards Ireland, 300 mi (480 km) away.
September 16, 1861 - Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland - The Cunard liner "Persia", comes up on the "Great Eastern", circles round her and then heads off for America, with those on board no doubt wondering why she was sailing in the wrong direction. When the ship arrives at Queenstown, the harbourmaster refuses to let her enter because she was not under full control and injured passengers were taken off by boats. The ship had to stand off for three days until she was towed in by "HMS Advice". Arrangements for temporary repairs are initiated and the passengers are offered free transport to the US aboard other ships. Once the repairs are completed the ship sails to Milford Haven where permanent repairs were to be carried out. Smaller, 50-foot-diameter (15 m) paddlewheels were fitted, and improvements were made to the steering.
December(?) 1(?), 1861 - Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland - A hurricane disables the "Great Eastern" and it drifts for 75 hours. On the 16th or 17th it manages to return to Cobh(Queenstown)
January 11(?), 1862 - Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland - Once the repairs are completed the ship sails to Milford Haven where permanent repairs were to be carried out
January 13, 1862 - Milford Haven, Wales - The ship is laid up at Milford Haven to be refitted
March 1(?), 1862 - Milford Haven, Wales - While being moved, "Great Eastern" collides with the frigate "HMS Blenheim", destroying its bowsprit, main yard, jib boom and moorings
March 12, 1862 - Milford Haven, Wales - Refit completed. Smaller, 50-foot-diameter (15 m) paddlewheels are fitted, and improvements were made to the steering
May 7, 1862 - Milford Haven, Wales - Sails from Milford Haven with 138 passengers, with Captain John Paton in command
May 17, 1862 - New York City - Arrives in New York. The ship is opened to visitors
June 1, 1862 - New York City - Departs to Liverpool with 389 passenger along with 3,000 tons of freight
June 11(?), 1862 - Liverpool - Returns to Liverpool
July(?) 1(?), 1862 - Liverpool - Departs to New York with 376 passengers
July 11, 1862 - New York City - Arrives in New York
July(?) 28(?), 1862 - New York City - Departs to Liverpool with 500 passengers and 8,000 tons of cargo
August 7, 1862 - Liverpool - Returns to Liverpool
August 17, 1862 - Liverpool - Departs to New York with 1,530 passengers on board
August 27, 1862 - E. of Montauk, Long Island - "Not wishing to enter New York Bay over Sandy Hook bar due to the ship's deep draught, the captain decided to steam up Long Island Sound and moor at Flushing Bay. The pilot came on board at 1:30 am and the ship moved slowly ahead. At about 2:00 am 1 mile (2 km) east of Montauk, Long Island a rumble was heard and the ship heeled slightly. The pilot said she had probably rubbed against the "North East Ripps" (later renamed "Great Eastern Rock"). The captain sent an officer down to check for damage and he reported no leaks. The ship had a list to port, but made her way into New York the next day under her own steam.
It was discovered that the rock had opened a gash in the ship's outer hull over 9 feet (2.7 m) wide and 83 feet (25 m) long. The enormous size of Great Eastern precluded the use of any drydock repair facility in the US, and the brothers Henry and Edward S. Renwick devised a daring plan to build a watertight, 104 by 15 feet (31.7 by 4.6 m) caisson to cover the gash, held in place by chains around the ship's hull. The brothers claimed that it would take two weeks to complete the repairs and said that they would only take payment if successful. The demands of the American Civil War caused delays in getting the iron plates required, and instead of two weeks the repairs took three months at a cost to the company of £70,000". (wikipedia)
January 6, 1863 - New York City - Sails for Liverpool
January 18, 1863 - Liverpool - Returns to Liverpool
May 16, 1863 - Liverpool - Departs to New York
May 27, 1863 - New York City - Arrives in New York
May(?) 30(?), 1863 - New York City - Departs to Liverpool
June(?) 10(?), 1863 - Liverpool - Arrives in Liverpool
June 30, 1863 - Liverpool - Departs to New York with 650 passengers
July 1, 1863 - Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland - Stop at Queenstown to take passengers
July(?) 10(?), 1863 - New York City - Arrives in New York
July(?) 15(?), 1863 - New York City - Departs to Liverpool
July(?) 25(?), 1863 - Liverpool - Arrives in Liverpool
August 12, 1863 - Liverpool - Departs to New York
August 22(?), 1863 - New York City - Arrives in New York
August(?) 25(?), 1863 - New York City - Departs to Liverpool
September 4(?), 1863 - Off the Coast of Ireland - The "Great Eastern" runs down a small sailing vessel, the "Jane", off the Coast of Ireland
September 5(?), 1863 - Liverpool - Arrives in Liverpool
January 14, 1864 - Liverpool - The ship is offered for sale at the Liverpool Exchange. The auctioneer, Joseph Cunard, of "Cunard Wilson and Company", opens the bidding at £50,000
April 1(?), 1864 - Liverpool - Chartered to the Telegraph Construction Company and converted to transatlantic cable laying ship
May 9, 1864 - While in Liverpool - The contract for the 1,600 tons of armouring wire is signed by Webster and Horsfall
May 29, 1865 - Sheerness - Taking on cable in Sheerness (1,395 Nautical miles of cable)
June 14, 1865 - Sheerness - "HMS Amethyst" arrives with the last load of cable
June 24, 1865 - The Nore - Departs from Sheerness and takes on board a further 1,500 tons of coal at the Nore (sandbank at the mouth of the Thames Estuary, England. It marks the point where the River Thames meets the North Sea)
July 15, 1865 - The Nore - The deadweight of the "Great Eastern" reaches 21,000 tons, of which 7,000 tons is cable. Captain James Anderson weighs anchor and sets out for Valentia, Ireland (Near Bantry Bay)
July 16, 1865 - Off The Lizard - "Great Eastern" sails past The Lizard
July 18, 1865 - Between Cornwall and Ireland - Takes a ship in tow, the "Caroline", to Ireland.
July 19, 1865 - 20 miles from Valentia, Ireland - The tow breaks about 20 miles from Valentia. The "Caroline" makes her way to Valentia while the "Great Eastern" sails to Berehaven
July 20, 1865 - Berehaven, SW Ireland - "Great Eastern" puts into Berehaven to load coal and stores
July 23, 1865 - Berehaven, SW Ireland - Departs for her first cable laying voyage across the Atlantic for Hearts Content, Newfoundland
August 2, 1865 - 606 nm from Hearts Content and 1186 nm from Valentia - At halfway mark, the cable is lost. Though attempts were made to retrieve it, there was no success
August 17, 1865 - Crookhaven, SW Ireland - Arrived back at Crookhaven
August 19, 1865 - Brighton - Makes her way to Brighton, where some of the Directors of the Atlantic Telegraph Company go on board
March 1(?), 1866 - While in Sheerness - The Anglo-American Telegraph Company is formed. Work on the transoceanic cable restarts
June 30, 1866 - Sheerness - Sails from Sheerness to Valentia to take on coal
July 13, 1866 - Valentia, SW Ireland - Departs from Valentia on her 2nd cable laying attempt
July 22, 1866 - North Atlantic Ocean - Passes the half way mark
July 27, 1866 - Hearts Content, Newfoundland - Arrives at Hearts Content, Newfoundland
August 9, 1866 - Hearts Content, Newfoundland - Departs from Hearts Content to return to the spot where the 1865 cable was lost
August 17, 1866 - 606 nm from Hearts Content and 1186 nm from Valentia - The cable is brought to the surface but after 5 minutes, it breaks and is lost again
August 31, 1866 - 606 nm from Hearts Content and 1186 nm from Valentia - The cable is hooked on the 30th attempt and buoyed. It is then taken on board with the help of ropes, cleaned up and connected. The message "Canning to Glass" is sent to Valentia. Once a reply had been received, Field enquires about the 1866 cable and the one across the Cabot Strait, which had not been repaired when he left Newfoundland. Back comes the message; “Both OK.” The transatlantic cable linking Europe to America was completed
September 7, 1866 - Hearts Content, Newfoundland - Returns to Hearts Content
October(?) 1(?), 1866 - Milford Haven, Wales - Laid up at Milford Haven with no prospects of cable work
January(?) 1(?), 1867 - New Ferry, Birkenhead - The "Great Eastern" is leased for £1,000 a month to a French company, "La Société des Affréteurs du Great Eastern", which was set up to transport wealthy Americans over to the Paris Exhibition sponsored by Napoleon III. The ship is made ready for service between France and New York. After her successful cable expedition, she has undergone a complete overhaul. She was stripped of all her cable-laying fittings, and had her screw boilers removed
March 26, 1867 - Liverpool - Departs to New York. One of the passengers is the father of science fiction, Jules Verne, who writes about the experience
April 9, 1867 - New York City - Arrives in New York
April 16, 1867 - Pier 37, New York - Departs to Brest, France
April 30, 1867 - Brest - The "Great Eastern" arrives in Brest
July(?) 1(?), 1867 - Liverpool - Returns to Liverpool. The crews are discharged. They then put in a claim for wages for the three months for which they had signed articles and they are told to sue the French company, something they could not afford to do. Through solicitors they present affidavits to the Court of Admiralty, resulting in the "Great Eastern" being seized by the Receiver of Wrecks in lieu of a claim of £4,500 in unpaid wages
January(?) 1(?), 1868 - Liverpool - Converted back to cable laying ship
June 19, 1869 - Portland, Dorset - Sails to Brest
June 20, 1869 - Brest - Arrives in Brest
June 21, 1869 - Brest - The "Great Eastern" departs on another cable laying voyage
July 12, 1869 - Off St.Pierre, St.Pierre and Miquelon - Arrives off St.Pierre. Spliced to shore cable on 22nd day out
August(?) 1(?), 1869 - Portland, Dorset(?) - Returns to England. (Portland?)
November 9, 1869 - Portland, Dorset - Departs for Bombay, India, with the british-indian telegraph Company cable on board. Captain Robert Halpin has the "Great Eastern" painted white to reduce the temperature when the ship reached the tropics
November(?) 20(?), 1869 - St.Vicent Island, Cape Verde - The "Great Eastern" anchors at St.Vincent Island, Cape Verde, for 5 days
December 22, 1869 - Cape Town, South Africa - Arrives in Cape Town
December 31, 1869 - Cape Town, South Africa - Departs to Bombay in company of the "Chiletern"
January 27, 1870 - Bombay, India - The "Great Eastern" arrives in Bombay
February 14, 1870 - Bombay, India - Departs for Aden stringing cable
February 27, 1870 - Aden - The "Great Eastern" completes the leg to Aden
March 22, 1870 - Suez | Alexandria - The entire line between Suez and Bombay, with one way station at Aden is completed and successfully responds to tests
April(?) 10(?), 1870 - River Mersey - Returns to the River Mersey
May 14, 1873 - Valentia, SW Ireland - Sails from Valentia to Hearts Content
June 6, 1873 - North Atlantic Ocean - Laying cable between Valentia and Hearts Content
September 17, 1873 - Valentia, SW Ireland - Sails from Valentia to Hearts Content
August 23, 1874 - Hearts Content, Newfoundland - Arrives at Hearts Content to lay cable West to East
August 26, 1874 - Off Hears Content - Begins laying cable West to East to Valentia
October(?) 1(?), 1874 - Valentia, SW Ireland - Sails to Milford Haven to be "mothballed"
October(?) 3(?), 1874 - Milford Haven, Wales - Returns to Wales
January(?) 1(?), 1876 - Milford Haven, Wales - The Milford Haven Docks Committee awards a contract to Frederick Appleby to construct two dry docks. The initial problem is that the "Great Eastern" was beached on the site of one. Appleby decides to use the ship as a platform for the pile drivers and later the builders, who build the dry dock around the ship. However, when the dry dock is flooded, "Great Eastern" couldn't be towed out because the dock gate was too narrow. The paddle boxes of the ship are removed and it floats clear of the dock. Later, £8000 are spent on repairs and cleaning of the ship.
November 19, 1880 - Milford Haven(?) - Sir Daniel Gooch finally parts company with the ship, resigning as Chairman and Director of the Great Eastern Steam Ship Company. Thomas Brassey’s son Henry replaces him
September 1(?), 1881 - Milford Haven(?) - The company puts the ship up for sale, asking for £75,000
January(?) 1(?), 1883 - Milford Haven(?) - Acting chairman Mr.Barber reports to the board that all attempts to sell or charter the vessel had failed
February 1(?), 1885 - Milford Haven(?) - Barber's son in law, the mortgagee of the ship, forecloses and takes possession
October 28, 1885 - Milford Haven(?) - Sold at auction to the representative of London Traders Ltd, Edward de Mattos, for £26,200
January(?) 1(?), 1886 - Milford Haven(?) - Four days are spent getting the outside of the ship ready to sail including the removal of around 300 tons of marine growth from the hull. The engine, beyond repair, fails several times
April 29, 1886 - Milford Haven(?) - Guests arrive for the voyage to Liverpool where the ship was going to be turned into a floating billboard
May 1, 1886 - Liverpool - Brought to Liverpool for the International Exhibition of Navigation, Commerce and Industry
October 15, 1886 - Dublin, Ireland - The ship is towed for a visit to Dublin
October 30, 1886 - Dublin - "Great Eastern" opens to the irish public
April 3, 1887 - Dublin - Leaves Dublin in tow for Greenock, Scotland
April 5(?), 1887 - Greenock, Scotland - Arrives at Greenock, Scotland
October 20, 1887 - Greenock - Sold at auction to Mr.Craik for £26,000
November 1(?), 1887 - Greenock - Bought by scrappers Henry Bath & Sons
August 22, 1888 - Greenock - Leaves the Clyde in tow from the tug "Stormcock" for Liverpool
August 25, 1888 - Liverpool - Reaches Liverpool
November 21, 1888 - New Ferry, Birkenhead - Auction of parts
May 1(?), 1889 - New Ferry, Birkenhead - Begins being broken up =(END)
January 1, 1855 - Isle of Dogs - Russell informs Brunel that he was in financial difficulty and his bankers had refused him further credit. Brunel approaches the board and it is agreed that Russell would be paid the amount due to him on his contract in instalments of £8,000 subject to agreement that the necessary work had been completed. This satisfied Martin’s Bank, who were Russell’s main creditors
October 12, 1855 - Isle of Dogs - Russell again contacts Brunel to inform him that his bankers require an immediate payment of £12,000 on his £15,000 overdraft. Brunel authorises a payment of £10,000. A week later Russell again gets in touch with Brunel to say that his bankers wanted the £15,000 and would not be satisfied with the offer of £10,000. Russell makes the point that he was employing a large number of men and he needed the money to pay their wages, or he would have to lay them off. Although true quite a number of these men were employed on other ships being built by Russell and not on the "Great Eastern". In all Russell had laid down six ships, some of them in Napier’s yard, one of which was preventing the completion of the stern of the "Great Eastern"
January 1(?), 1856 - Isle of Dogs - William Harrison is selected by the directors of the Eastern Steam Navigation Company out of 200 competitors to take the command of the "Great Eastern"
February 1(?), 1856 - Isle of Dogs - Brunel advises the Eastern Company that they should take possession of the "Great Eastern" to avoid it being seized by Scott Russell's creditors
February 4, 1856 - Isle of Dogs - Russell suspends all payments to his creditors and a week later dismisses all his workmen
February 12, 1856 - Isle of Dogs - A meeting is held by Russell’s creditors, at which it is disclosed that Russell had liabilities of £122,940 and assets of £100,353. It is decided that existing contracts would be allowed to run to completion and the business would be liquidated under the supervision of three inspectors appointed by his creditors. To the board of the ESN he issues a statement, in which he repudiates his contract effectively handing the uncompleted ship back to the company. This from the man who had received a total of £292,295 including extra payments for additional work from ESN and yet when the situation was reviewed it was found that three quarters of the work on the hull had not been completed and there was a deficiency of 1,200 tons in the amount of iron supplied and that used on the ship. Out of the original estimate for the construction of the hull only £40,000 had not been paid to Russell
May 1(?), 1856 - Isle of Dogs - Work on the ship recommences in May
September 1(?), 1857 - Isle of Dogs - Last plates riveted
November 3, 1857 - Isle of Dogs - Unsucessful launch of the "Great Eastern" as the steam winches and manual capstans used to haul the ship towards the water were not up to the job
 |
| Isambard Kingdom Brunel standing Before the launching chains of the Great Eastern, 1857 |
November 28, 1857 - Isle of Dogs - Unsucessful attempt to launch the "Great Eastern" using hydraulic rams to move the ship
December 2, 1857 - Isle of Dogs - Attempted launch with Prince Albert and Prince of Wales in attendance
December 5, 1857 - Isle of Dogs - Visit from Princess Royal, the Duchess of Atholl, Marquis of Stafford and Sir Joseph Paxton (designer of the Crystal Palace)
January 31, 1858 - Isle of Dogs - The "Great Eastern" is launched sideways, aided by an unusually high tide and strong winds and using more powerful hydraulic rams =(START)
January 31, 1859 - Isle of Dogs - Work on the "Great Eastern" is completed
August 1(?), 1859 - Isle of Dogs - The "Great Eastern" begins being fitted out
September 5, 1859 - Isle of Dogs - Isambard Kingdom Brunel suffers a stroke on the foredeck of the "Great Eastern"
September 6, 1859 - Isle of Dogs - Departs to Weymouth for sea trials
September 9, 1859 - Off Hastings - Off Hastings on 9 September 1859, a massive boiler explosion kills eight of the firemen and seriously injures several others. Harrison shows prompt courage and resource, and takes the vessel into Portland, although in a very damaged state. The "Great Eastern" is then put into winter quarters near Hurst Castle
September 10, 1859 - Portland, Dorset - The ship arrives in Portland. The dead are carried off and the wounded transported to hospital
October 8, 1859 - Portland - Date of first scheduled departure for New York but not met
October 15, 1859 - Portland - After repairs, the "Great Eastern" departs to Holyhead
October 17, 1859 - Holyhead, NW Wales - Arrives at Holyhead, the ship's planned homeport. It is opened for visitors
October 24, 1859 - Holyhead - During the night of 24th-25th, the harbour breakwater is damaged by a storm and it is thought safer to operate the ship from Southampton
November 2, 1859 - Holyhead - Departs for Southampton
November 3, 1859 - Longships Lighthouse (SW tip of Great Britain) | The Lizard - The "Great Eastern" passes Longships Lighthouse and after two hours, the Lizard
November 4, 1859 - Southampton - Arrives in Southampton. The ship is opened for paying visitors
January 21, 1860 - While in Southampton - While setting out in the ship's boat from Hythe to Southampton docks, Captain William Harrison gives the order to drop sail. However, a sudden squall catches it and capsizes the boat. Captain Harrison and two others are drowned. He is succeeded by Captain John Vine
June 10, 1860 - South of the Isle of Wight - Trial trip to check for problems with the paddle engine boilers, which are replaced with iron lattice work
June 14, 1860 - Southampton - The passangers board the "Great Eastern"
June 17, 1860 - Southampton - "Great Eastern" departs for New York with only 35 paying passengers
June 28, 1860 - Sandy Hook, near New York - Arrives at Sandy Hook near New York. Sight seeing in New York
July 3, 1860 - New York - The ship opens to the public at $1 a head but only 1,500 of the vast crowds paid to go aboard on the first day
July 11, 1860 - New York - After a week the price drops to 50 cents
July 30, 1860 - New York - By July 30th, over 140,000 had visited the ship
July 31, 1860 - New York - Departs for an excursion to Cape May. 2,000 people buy tickets at $10 a head
August 1, 1860 - Off Cape May, New Jersey - Arrives off Cape May. Many things go wrong and the excursion is a bad experience for most of the passengers
August 4, 1860 - Off Annapolis, Cheasapeake Bay - Excursion to Cheasapeake Bay, off Annapolis
August 9, 1860 - Off Annapolis, Cheasapeake Bay - US President Buchanan pays a 2-hour visit to the ship
August 12, 1860 - New York - Returns to New York
August 16, 1860 - New York - The "Great Eastern" sets sail to Halifax, Nova Scotia, with 102 passengers on board
August 18, 1860 - Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - The "Great Eastern" arrives in Halifax, Nova Scotia
August 19, 1860 - Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada - The "Great Eastern" departs to England with 72 passengers on board
August 28, 1860 - Milford Haven, Wales - Returns to Great Britain in 9 days 4 hours with 100 passengers
May 1, 1861 - Milford Haven, Wales - The boat taking the passengers to the "Great Eastern" runs aground and they and their luggage have to be rescued by small boats. After the delay, the ship departs to New York with only 100 paying passengers
May 4, 1861 - North Atlantic Ocean - The "Great Eastern" runs into a severe gale. Unscrewed furniture and fittings are thrown around the saloonsMay 10, 1861 - New York - Arrives in New York after a voyage of 9 days and 13 hours, but virtually unnoticed due to the American Civil War. When it is opened to the public at 25 cents a head there is little interest
May 25, 1861 - New York - Departs to Milford Haven with 194 passengers and 5,000 tons of wheat
June 3, 1861 - Liverpool - The "Great Eastern" arrives in Liverpool
June 10(?), 1861 - Birkenhead - The ship is chartered by the British Government to transport troops to Canada. The necessary modifications are carried out at Birkenhead Iron Works
June 25, 1861 - Liverpool - The "Great Eastern" departs to Quebec with the 4/60th Rifles, consisting of 2,144 officers and men, 473 women and children, and 200 horses, along with 40 paying passengers
July 2, 1861 - Off Cape Race, Newfoundland - The ship runs into fog and nearly hits the Cunard liner "Arabia" off Cape Race
July 6, 1861 - Quebec, Canada - Arrives in Quebec. The ship remains closed to the public until July 17th for cleaning and maintenance
July 17, 1861 - Quebec - "Great Eastern" opens for visitors for 50 cents
July 31, 1861 - Quebec - Visits to the ship are closed
August 6, 1861 - Quebec - "Great Eastern" departs for England with 357 paying passengers.
August 16(?), 1861 - Liverpool - Returns to Liverpool. Captain Kennedy leaves command of the ship
September 10, 1861 - Liverpool - The "Great Eastern" departs for New York, commanded by Captain James Walker, with full complement of 400 passengers
September 11, 1861 - Irish Sea (between Wales and Ireland) - "On her second day out the wind increased to gale force, causing the ship to roll heavily. The port paddle wheel was completely lost, and the starboard paddle wheel smashed to pieces when one of the lifeboats broke loose. At the same time it was discovered that the cast iron rudder post, which was 11 inches (280 mm) in diameter, had sheared off 2 ft (0.61 m) above its collar and the rudder was swinging free and hitting the screw, which was slowly breaking it up.
Captain Walker ordered his officers to say nothing to the passengers concerning the situation, then had a trysail hoisted which was immediately ripped apart by the wind. He then had a four-ton spar thrown overboard secured with a hawser to try to bring some control to the ship, but it only worked for a short while before being torn away.
By the end of the second day some of the passengers had an idea as to the predicament they were in and formed a committee chaired by Liverpool shipping merchant George Oakwood. The captain agreed to meet Oakwood and allowed him to inspect the ship. What he found was far worse than had been expected: none of the cargo had been stowed properly and it was all rolling loose in the holds. Hamilton E. Towle, an American civil engineer, who was returning to the States after completing his contract working as a supervising engineer on the Danube River dry-docks in Austria, visited the rudder room and after inspecting the damage came up with a plan to regain control of the rudder.
Towle's scheme was taken to the captain, who failed to act on it. In the evening of the third day, Magnet, a brig from Nova Scotia, appeared on the scene. Captain Walker asked her captain if he would stand by. He agreed, but it turned out there was little he could do, and after several hours the brig left, later succeeding in a claim for demurrage from the Great Ship Company for the delay.
Towle now presented his plan to the passengers' committee, and in turn they pressured the captain into letting him try it. Towle had a 100 ft (30 m) chain composed of 60 lb (27 kg) links wound around the rudder post below the break, then secured the ends of the chain to the port and starboard frames of the ship using block and tackle. Two lighter chains were led down from the wheelhouse and attached to the heavy chain and also to the ship's frames. This allowed some limited movement of the rudder, and the ship became steerable again" (from Wikipedia)
September 15, 1861 - Celtic Sea, 480km from Ireland - On the morning of September 15th the storm finally abates. Towle and the passengers committee insist that the Captain try the repaired rudder and eventually the engines are started. After 75 hours of drifting out of control the ship answers the helm and is turned on to a course towards Ireland, 300 mi (480 km) away.
September 16, 1861 - Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland - The Cunard liner "Persia", comes up on the "Great Eastern", circles round her and then heads off for America, with those on board no doubt wondering why she was sailing in the wrong direction. When the ship arrives at Queenstown, the harbourmaster refuses to let her enter because she was not under full control and injured passengers were taken off by boats. The ship had to stand off for three days until she was towed in by "HMS Advice". Arrangements for temporary repairs are initiated and the passengers are offered free transport to the US aboard other ships. Once the repairs are completed the ship sails to Milford Haven where permanent repairs were to be carried out. Smaller, 50-foot-diameter (15 m) paddlewheels were fitted, and improvements were made to the steering.
December(?) 1(?), 1861 - Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland - A hurricane disables the "Great Eastern" and it drifts for 75 hours. On the 16th or 17th it manages to return to Cobh(Queenstown)
January 11(?), 1862 - Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland - Once the repairs are completed the ship sails to Milford Haven where permanent repairs were to be carried out
January 13, 1862 - Milford Haven, Wales - The ship is laid up at Milford Haven to be refitted
March 1(?), 1862 - Milford Haven, Wales - While being moved, "Great Eastern" collides with the frigate "HMS Blenheim", destroying its bowsprit, main yard, jib boom and moorings
March 12, 1862 - Milford Haven, Wales - Refit completed. Smaller, 50-foot-diameter (15 m) paddlewheels are fitted, and improvements were made to the steering
May 7, 1862 - Milford Haven, Wales - Sails from Milford Haven with 138 passengers, with Captain John Paton in command
May 17, 1862 - New York City - Arrives in New York. The ship is opened to visitors
June 1, 1862 - New York City - Departs to Liverpool with 389 passenger along with 3,000 tons of freight
June 11(?), 1862 - Liverpool - Returns to Liverpool
July(?) 1(?), 1862 - Liverpool - Departs to New York with 376 passengers
July 11, 1862 - New York City - Arrives in New York
July(?) 28(?), 1862 - New York City - Departs to Liverpool with 500 passengers and 8,000 tons of cargo
August 7, 1862 - Liverpool - Returns to Liverpool
August 17, 1862 - Liverpool - Departs to New York with 1,530 passengers on board
August 27, 1862 - E. of Montauk, Long Island - "Not wishing to enter New York Bay over Sandy Hook bar due to the ship's deep draught, the captain decided to steam up Long Island Sound and moor at Flushing Bay. The pilot came on board at 1:30 am and the ship moved slowly ahead. At about 2:00 am 1 mile (2 km) east of Montauk, Long Island a rumble was heard and the ship heeled slightly. The pilot said she had probably rubbed against the "North East Ripps" (later renamed "Great Eastern Rock"). The captain sent an officer down to check for damage and he reported no leaks. The ship had a list to port, but made her way into New York the next day under her own steam.
It was discovered that the rock had opened a gash in the ship's outer hull over 9 feet (2.7 m) wide and 83 feet (25 m) long. The enormous size of Great Eastern precluded the use of any drydock repair facility in the US, and the brothers Henry and Edward S. Renwick devised a daring plan to build a watertight, 104 by 15 feet (31.7 by 4.6 m) caisson to cover the gash, held in place by chains around the ship's hull. The brothers claimed that it would take two weeks to complete the repairs and said that they would only take payment if successful. The demands of the American Civil War caused delays in getting the iron plates required, and instead of two weeks the repairs took three months at a cost to the company of £70,000". (wikipedia)
January 6, 1863 - New York City - Sails for Liverpool
January 18, 1863 - Liverpool - Returns to Liverpool
May 16, 1863 - Liverpool - Departs to New York
May 27, 1863 - New York City - Arrives in New York
May(?) 30(?), 1863 - New York City - Departs to Liverpool
June(?) 10(?), 1863 - Liverpool - Arrives in Liverpool
June 30, 1863 - Liverpool - Departs to New York with 650 passengers
July 1, 1863 - Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland - Stop at Queenstown to take passengers
July(?) 10(?), 1863 - New York City - Arrives in New York
July(?) 15(?), 1863 - New York City - Departs to Liverpool
July(?) 25(?), 1863 - Liverpool - Arrives in Liverpool
August 12, 1863 - Liverpool - Departs to New York
August 22(?), 1863 - New York City - Arrives in New York
August(?) 25(?), 1863 - New York City - Departs to Liverpool
September 4(?), 1863 - Off the Coast of Ireland - The "Great Eastern" runs down a small sailing vessel, the "Jane", off the Coast of Ireland
September 5(?), 1863 - Liverpool - Arrives in Liverpool
January 14, 1864 - Liverpool - The ship is offered for sale at the Liverpool Exchange. The auctioneer, Joseph Cunard, of "Cunard Wilson and Company", opens the bidding at £50,000
April 1(?), 1864 - Liverpool - Chartered to the Telegraph Construction Company and converted to transatlantic cable laying ship
May 9, 1864 - While in Liverpool - The contract for the 1,600 tons of armouring wire is signed by Webster and Horsfall
May 29, 1865 - Sheerness - Taking on cable in Sheerness (1,395 Nautical miles of cable)
June 14, 1865 - Sheerness - "HMS Amethyst" arrives with the last load of cable
June 24, 1865 - The Nore - Departs from Sheerness and takes on board a further 1,500 tons of coal at the Nore (sandbank at the mouth of the Thames Estuary, England. It marks the point where the River Thames meets the North Sea)
July 15, 1865 - The Nore - The deadweight of the "Great Eastern" reaches 21,000 tons, of which 7,000 tons is cable. Captain James Anderson weighs anchor and sets out for Valentia, Ireland (Near Bantry Bay)
July 16, 1865 - Off The Lizard - "Great Eastern" sails past The Lizard
July 18, 1865 - Between Cornwall and Ireland - Takes a ship in tow, the "Caroline", to Ireland.
July 19, 1865 - 20 miles from Valentia, Ireland - The tow breaks about 20 miles from Valentia. The "Caroline" makes her way to Valentia while the "Great Eastern" sails to Berehaven
July 20, 1865 - Berehaven, SW Ireland - "Great Eastern" puts into Berehaven to load coal and stores
July 23, 1865 - Berehaven, SW Ireland - Departs for her first cable laying voyage across the Atlantic for Hearts Content, Newfoundland
August 2, 1865 - 606 nm from Hearts Content and 1186 nm from Valentia - At halfway mark, the cable is lost. Though attempts were made to retrieve it, there was no success
August 17, 1865 - Crookhaven, SW Ireland - Arrived back at Crookhaven
August 19, 1865 - Brighton - Makes her way to Brighton, where some of the Directors of the Atlantic Telegraph Company go on board
March 1(?), 1866 - While in Sheerness - The Anglo-American Telegraph Company is formed. Work on the transoceanic cable restarts
June 30, 1866 - Sheerness - Sails from Sheerness to Valentia to take on coal
July 13, 1866 - Valentia, SW Ireland - Departs from Valentia on her 2nd cable laying attempt
July 22, 1866 - North Atlantic Ocean - Passes the half way mark
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| "Great Eastern", Hearts Content July 27th, 1866 |
July 27, 1866 - Hearts Content, Newfoundland - Arrives at Hearts Content, Newfoundland
August 9, 1866 - Hearts Content, Newfoundland - Departs from Hearts Content to return to the spot where the 1865 cable was lost
August 17, 1866 - 606 nm from Hearts Content and 1186 nm from Valentia - The cable is brought to the surface but after 5 minutes, it breaks and is lost again
August 31, 1866 - 606 nm from Hearts Content and 1186 nm from Valentia - The cable is hooked on the 30th attempt and buoyed. It is then taken on board with the help of ropes, cleaned up and connected. The message "Canning to Glass" is sent to Valentia. Once a reply had been received, Field enquires about the 1866 cable and the one across the Cabot Strait, which had not been repaired when he left Newfoundland. Back comes the message; “Both OK.” The transatlantic cable linking Europe to America was completed
September 7, 1866 - Hearts Content, Newfoundland - Returns to Hearts Content
October(?) 1(?), 1866 - Milford Haven, Wales - Laid up at Milford Haven with no prospects of cable work
January(?) 1(?), 1867 - New Ferry, Birkenhead - The "Great Eastern" is leased for £1,000 a month to a French company, "La Société des Affréteurs du Great Eastern", which was set up to transport wealthy Americans over to the Paris Exhibition sponsored by Napoleon III. The ship is made ready for service between France and New York. After her successful cable expedition, she has undergone a complete overhaul. She was stripped of all her cable-laying fittings, and had her screw boilers removed
March 26, 1867 - Liverpool - Departs to New York. One of the passengers is the father of science fiction, Jules Verne, who writes about the experience
April 9, 1867 - New York City - Arrives in New York
April 16, 1867 - Pier 37, New York - Departs to Brest, France
April 30, 1867 - Brest - The "Great Eastern" arrives in Brest
July(?) 1(?), 1867 - Liverpool - Returns to Liverpool. The crews are discharged. They then put in a claim for wages for the three months for which they had signed articles and they are told to sue the French company, something they could not afford to do. Through solicitors they present affidavits to the Court of Admiralty, resulting in the "Great Eastern" being seized by the Receiver of Wrecks in lieu of a claim of £4,500 in unpaid wages
January(?) 1(?), 1868 - Liverpool - Converted back to cable laying ship
June 19, 1869 - Portland, Dorset - Sails to Brest
June 20, 1869 - Brest - Arrives in Brest
June 21, 1869 - Brest - The "Great Eastern" departs on another cable laying voyage
July 12, 1869 - Off St.Pierre, St.Pierre and Miquelon - Arrives off St.Pierre. Spliced to shore cable on 22nd day out
August(?) 1(?), 1869 - Portland, Dorset(?) - Returns to England. (Portland?)
November 9, 1869 - Portland, Dorset - Departs for Bombay, India, with the british-indian telegraph Company cable on board. Captain Robert Halpin has the "Great Eastern" painted white to reduce the temperature when the ship reached the tropics
November(?) 20(?), 1869 - St.Vicent Island, Cape Verde - The "Great Eastern" anchors at St.Vincent Island, Cape Verde, for 5 days
December 22, 1869 - Cape Town, South Africa - Arrives in Cape Town
December 31, 1869 - Cape Town, South Africa - Departs to Bombay in company of the "Chiletern"
January 27, 1870 - Bombay, India - The "Great Eastern" arrives in Bombay
February 27, 1870 - Aden - The "Great Eastern" completes the leg to Aden
March 22, 1870 - Suez | Alexandria - The entire line between Suez and Bombay, with one way station at Aden is completed and successfully responds to tests
April(?) 10(?), 1870 - River Mersey - Returns to the River Mersey
May 14, 1873 - Valentia, SW Ireland - Sails from Valentia to Hearts Content
June 6, 1873 - North Atlantic Ocean - Laying cable between Valentia and Hearts Content
September 17, 1873 - Valentia, SW Ireland - Sails from Valentia to Hearts Content
August 23, 1874 - Hearts Content, Newfoundland - Arrives at Hearts Content to lay cable West to East
August 26, 1874 - Off Hears Content - Begins laying cable West to East to Valentia
October(?) 1(?), 1874 - Valentia, SW Ireland - Sails to Milford Haven to be "mothballed"
October(?) 3(?), 1874 - Milford Haven, Wales - Returns to Wales
January(?) 1(?), 1876 - Milford Haven, Wales - The Milford Haven Docks Committee awards a contract to Frederick Appleby to construct two dry docks. The initial problem is that the "Great Eastern" was beached on the site of one. Appleby decides to use the ship as a platform for the pile drivers and later the builders, who build the dry dock around the ship. However, when the dry dock is flooded, "Great Eastern" couldn't be towed out because the dock gate was too narrow. The paddle boxes of the ship are removed and it floats clear of the dock. Later, £8000 are spent on repairs and cleaning of the ship.
November 19, 1880 - Milford Haven(?) - Sir Daniel Gooch finally parts company with the ship, resigning as Chairman and Director of the Great Eastern Steam Ship Company. Thomas Brassey’s son Henry replaces him
September 1(?), 1881 - Milford Haven(?) - The company puts the ship up for sale, asking for £75,000
January(?) 1(?), 1883 - Milford Haven(?) - Acting chairman Mr.Barber reports to the board that all attempts to sell or charter the vessel had failed
February 1(?), 1885 - Milford Haven(?) - Barber's son in law, the mortgagee of the ship, forecloses and takes possession
October 28, 1885 - Milford Haven(?) - Sold at auction to the representative of London Traders Ltd, Edward de Mattos, for £26,200
January(?) 1(?), 1886 - Milford Haven(?) - Four days are spent getting the outside of the ship ready to sail including the removal of around 300 tons of marine growth from the hull. The engine, beyond repair, fails several times
April 29, 1886 - Milford Haven(?) - Guests arrive for the voyage to Liverpool where the ship was going to be turned into a floating billboard
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| Great Eastern anchored at Liverpool when used for advertising Lewis' Department Store |
October 15, 1886 - Dublin, Ireland - The ship is towed for a visit to Dublin
October 30, 1886 - Dublin - "Great Eastern" opens to the irish public
April 3, 1887 - Dublin - Leaves Dublin in tow for Greenock, Scotland
April 5(?), 1887 - Greenock, Scotland - Arrives at Greenock, Scotland
October 20, 1887 - Greenock - Sold at auction to Mr.Craik for £26,000
November 1(?), 1887 - Greenock - Bought by scrappers Henry Bath & Sons
August 22, 1888 - Greenock - Leaves the Clyde in tow from the tug "Stormcock" for Liverpool
August 25, 1888 - Liverpool - Reaches Liverpool
November 21, 1888 - New Ferry, Birkenhead - Auction of parts
May 1(?), 1889 - New Ferry, Birkenhead - Begins being broken up =(END)
