(Updated, April 2024) Isambard Kingdom Brunel's 'Great Eastern', was laid down at Millwall on the Thames opposite and just upstream from Greenwich in 1854, and launched in 1858. In this view, its bow is pointing downstream (right).The extraordinary dimensions of the ship dictated that it be built on an inclined way parallel to the river, for launching sideways. Had it been launched stern first from a slipway it would have run aground on the opposite bank of the Thames as it was nearly as long as the river was wide at low tide.

Carmichael, the son of a ship's carpenter, was born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He was apprenticed to a shipbuilder and may have gone to sea before becoming an artist. Between 1835 and 1859 he exhibited mainly marine subjects at the Royal Academy and also exhibited at the British Institution. In 1855 he was sent to record the Crimean War on its Baltic front for 'The Illustrated London News' and while he was there kept a journal of his experiences. This watercolour or a related drawing was engraved and published in the ILN in 1857.