ðə fˈɜːst jˈuːnɪt ʌv sˈɪɹiz nˈoʊn æz ðə "bˈɪɡ fˈoːɹ" wʌz pˌʊt ˌɪntʊ sˈɜːvɪs ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd wˈʌn, , wˌaɪl ɐ sˈɛkənd ʃˈɪp bˈɪlt ɔnðə sˈeɪm mˈɑːdəl wʌz ɔːlɹˌɛdi ˌʌndɚ kənstɹˈʌkʃən: ðə sˈɛdɹɪk.
The first unit of series known as the "Big Four" was put into service in 1901, , while a second ship built on the same model was already under construction: the Cedric.