Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Isambard Kngdom Brunel was Britain's and to most people, the world's great civil engineer.
Brunel was born in 1806 Portsmouth to Marc Isambard Brunel and Sophia Kingdom. His father Marc was also a civil engineer and he designed the first tunnelling shield which was used in the construction of The Thames Tunnel
Isambard however went on to achieve a great deal more than his father and in much less time.
He could count amongst other things over 30 bridges, the Great Western Railway and Bristol Temple Meads station as some of his achievements with the Clifton Suspension Bridge the most famous of all
Using his engineering skills, Isambard worked out a way in which a steam powered ship could cross the Atlantic which many said was impossible. The 'Great Western' was launched in 1838 and crossed the Atlantic in 15 days.
Isambard was a heavy smoker and as a result had high blood pressure. He was also diagnosed with having Bright's disease which affects the kidneys. He had a stroke on the 5th September 1859 and died 10 days later at the age of 53. He is buried in a family grave within Kensal Green cemetery in London

Clifton Suspension Bridge		Bristol Temple Meads Station

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