Christened Leviathan in the early stages, thereafter always known as SS Great Eastern, an iron sailing steam ship designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and built by J. Scott Russell & Co work started in the spring of 1854 and lauched January 1858, at Millwall Iron Works in the Isle of Dogs,on the River Thames, London. Largest ship ever built at the time and had the capacity to carry 4,000 passengers from England to Australia without refuelling.