What was the name of the first iron steamship to cross the Atlantic?

The SS Great Britain was the first iron steamship to cross the Atlantic. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, she completed the crossing from Liverpool to New York in 1845, making the voyage in about 14 days.

The ship was revolutionary because it combined several major innovations. Her hull was made of iron rather than the more usual wood, and she was powered by a screw propeller instead of relying mainly on paddle wheels. At 322 feet long and weighing more than 3,400 tons, she was also the largest passenger ship in the world when completed.

The SS Great Britain belonged to the Great Western Steamship Company and was intended for regular transatlantic service. Her maiden voyage began on 26 July 1845 with 45 passengers under Captain James Hosken. Although her crossing was not the fastest of the era, it demonstrated that a large iron, screw-propelled vessel could operate across an ocean.

The ship later served in several roles, including passenger service, a troopship, and a cargo vessel. She is now preserved as a museum ship in Bristol, where visitors can see the vessel that helped shape modern ocean travel.