Isambard Kingdom Brunel

9 April 1806 – 15 September 1859

Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859) was a British civil and mechanical engineer regarded as one of the most ingenious figures of the Industrial Revolution. He engineered the Great Western Railway, designed groundbreaking steamships including the SS Great Britain, and created numerous bridges, tunnels, and docks.

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Life events

Born in Portsmouth, England
9 April 1806

Isambard Kingdom Brunel was born in Portsea, Portsmouth, the son of French-born engineer Marc Isambard Brunel.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Worked as assistant engineer on the Thames Tunnel
1826 – 1828

Brunel joined his father's project to tunnel under the Thames and was seriously injured when the tunnel flooded in 1828.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Won the design competition for the Clifton Suspension Bridge
1831

Brunel's design for a suspension bridge across the Avon Gorge at Bristol was accepted; the bridge was completed after his death.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Appointed chief engineer of the Great Western Railway
March 1833

Brunel was chosen to engineer the railway from London to Bristol, which he built to his broad gauge with famously flat gradients.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Mary Elizabeth Horsley
5 July 1836

Brunel married Mary Horsley and settled at Duke Street, Westminster; the couple had three children.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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SS Great Western made her maiden transatlantic voyage
8 April 1838

Brunel's paddle steamer, the first steamship built for regular Atlantic crossings, sailed from Bristol to New York.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Launched the SS Great Britain
19 July 1843

Brunel's iron-hulled, screw-propelled steamship, the largest vessel afloat at the time, was launched at Bristol.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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SS Great Eastern launched after prolonged difficulties
31 January 1858

Brunel's final and largest ship, designed to carry passengers to Australia without refuelling, was finally launched on the Thames.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Royal Albert Bridge across the Tamar opened
2 May 1859

Brunel's railway bridge linking Devon and Cornwall at Saltash was opened by Prince Albert shortly before the engineer's death.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Westminster, London
15 September 1859

Brunel died at the age of 53, days after suffering a stroke aboard the Great Eastern, and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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