The first attempt to launch the "Great Eastern" was made on 3 November 1857, and a further thirteen equally unsuccessful attempts were made until 16 December 1857. The ship was not fully waterborne until Sunday 31 January 1858. Another print of this image in the collection of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich gives the date 28th November 1857 in the negative. A variant image including additional figures but apparently taken on the same occasion was used as the basis of an etching reproduced in the special Leviathan issue of the Illustrated Times, January 16, 1858. There, the four most prominent figures were identified as Mr. Roberts (manufacturer of the chain cables), Capt. Harrison, Mr. Brunel and Mr. Tredwell (contractor for the slipways).