Abstract
The Great Western is the first steamship is designed and directed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel (IKB). This wooden paddle steamer was launched in Bristol on 19th July 1837 and sailed to London in order to fit steam engines and boilers at Maudslay Sons & Field works. She sailed from Bristol on her maiden voyage on 8th April 1838, arriving at New York on 23rd April, and had served as a transatlantic ship by 1846. She sailed from Bristol to New York for 13 days and return was in 15 days. The Great Western completed 45 Atlantic voyages. She was withdrawn for scrapping in August 1856. IKB pioneered commercial transatlantic steamships.
