Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Isambard Kingdom Brunel (April 9, 1806 – September 15, 1859) was a British engineer. An important figure in the history of engineering, he was noted for the creation of the Great Western Railway, a series of famous steamships, and important bridges. Though they were not always successful, his projects often contained innovative solutions to longstanding engineering problems. He generated much publicity for his endeavours and his achievements are still widely celebrated today.

The Thames Tunnel

The son of noted engineer Sir Marc Isambard Brunel and Sophia Brunel née Kingdom, Isambard K. Brunel was born in Portsmouth, England on April 9 1806. His father was working there on the block-making machinery for the Portsmouth Block Mills. The young Brunel was sent to France to be educated at the College of Caen in Normandy and the Lycée Henri-Quatre in Paris. He rose to prominence when, aged 20, he was appointed as the resident engineer of the Thames Tunnel, his father's greatest achievement. The first major river tunnel ever built, Isambard spent nearly two years trying to drive the horizontal shaft from one side to the other. Two severe incidents of flooding injured the younger Brunel and ended work on the tunnel for several years, though it was eventually completed.

Related Topics:
Marc Isambard Brunel - Portsmouth - England - April 9 - 1806 - Portsmouth Block Mills - France - Normandy - Paris - Thames Tunnel

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