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Isambard Kingdom Brunel by the launching chains of the SS Great Eastern 1857. Photo by Robert Howlett –

10 Amazing Facts about Isambard Kingdom Brunel

Isambard Kingdom Brunel is remembered as a famous engineer in Victorian times. Among the jobs that he is remembered for are that he built railway stations, bridges, and ships. Most of what he built is still made use of in this day and age.

Better still Isambard has taken part in changing the transportation in Britain to look a whole lot new. He is among the most famed engineers to champion for invention and innovation which was fueled by both industrialization and vast mass production.

1. Isambard鈥檚 upbringing was a mix of things

Isambard Brunel (/藞瑟z蓹m藢b蓱藧d bru藧藞n蓻l/), Chancellor of the Diocese of Ely; son and biographer of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Photo by John Callcott Horsley –

Isambard’s parents Sophia Kingdom and Marc Isambard Brunel came across each other during the French revolution in Rouen. Just before Isambard Kingdom came into being, his mum, Sophia was arrested until the French revolution subsided.

Marc Isambard Brunel, Isambard鈥檚 father fled to New York during the revolution but his mother remained in 麻豆APP to finish studying. However, she was suspected to be a British spy and that was what led her to be thrown in prison.

After all that, the couple later reunited in England and married in 1799. It is thereafter that Sophia bore a son, Isambard Kingdom Brunel on 9^th April 1806 in Portsmouth. His names were picked from both parents.

2. His childhood was happy despite his family having financial problems

Isambard Kingdom Brunel Bronze temple. Photo by Tagishsimon –

Isambard鈥檚 father happened to be an inventor and engineer who was brilliant at what he did. He developed methods to produce mass ships鈥� and pulleys among other things, however, this success led him into debts where he ended up in debtor鈥檚 prisons.

It was after three months, that the public got to know that Alexander 1 of Russia was planning to bail him out and later move his family to St. Petersburg. The British government however relented following the pressure of the likes of Duke of Wellington, where on the condition that Marc remained in Britain and put his talent into use, then they would clear his debt.

3. Isambard鈥檚 Talent was naturally born with his talent

Statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Paddington station. Photo by Chris McKenna –

From a young age, Isambard Brunel showed a natural talent for mathematics and engineering. By the time he got to 8 years old, he had started learning Euclidian geometry and was also encouraged to draw buildings.

Under Louis Breguet, who is France’s most celebrated maker of scientific instruments and watches, Isambard Kingdom Brunel was sent to France for his apprenticeship. At 20 years of age, Isambard assisted his father to construct and design the 1300-foot Thames Tunnel. This tunnel undercuts the Thames between Wapping and Rotherhithe.

4. His height did not stop him from getting to greater heights

Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-59) beside the ‘Great Eastern’, c.1857. Photo by Robert Howlett –

Isambard Kingdom Brunel was self-conscious about his height and he was visibly known for that aspect. He tried various ways of appearing taller by often wearing a tall top hat and also sitting up straight when on a horseback.

He once said, 鈥淚 often do the most silly useless things to appear to take advantage before or attract the attention of those I shall never see again or who I care nothing about鈥�.

As a result, many people have dubbed his incredible engineering feats to have been a result of his 鈥渟hort man syndrome鈥�.

5. His designs and constructions were incredible

Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Photo by Luke McKernan –

Isambard submitted to the committee headed by Thomas Telford, fours designs of a new bridge that was needed by Bristol in 1830. All his entries were rejected and Telford鈥檚 designs were instead proposed.

However, it is the public outcry that forced Bristol鈥檚 committee to hold a competition, and there Isambard Brunel won.

The bridge was finally constructed, it was a 700-foot bridge over the River Avon which was the longest span of any bridge in the world. There were two masonry towers, which reached 245 feet above the river gorge and which held the roadway through tensioned cables.

6. Isambard christened the Great Western Railway (GWR).

Isambard Kingdom Brunel looks out at his station, Paddington. Photo by Roger Carvell –

Brunel got the appointment to be the chief engineer of the Great Western Railway, an outwardly ambitious project. It aimed to link London to Bristol through a 124-mile railway route.

Brunel chose the flattest route after weeks of surveying and research on the geography of the area where the railway was to be put up. Despite these many obstacles, rivers, hills, and valleys were combated through innovative tunnels, bridges, viaducts, and stations.

The GWR was what enabled towns such as Reading and Swindon to become some of the fastest-growing of 19^th century Europe.

7. How marriage life was like for Isambard

First Great Western HST power car 43003 is named after Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Photo by Creative Commons Zero –

Brunel married Mary Elizabeth Horsley, the eldest daughter of organist and composer William Horsley. They both established their home at Dule Street, Westminster.

It was around this time that the newly married couple began to design steamships for transatlantic voyages. Brunel hoped to extend the journey of the GWR not only from London to Bristol but onwards to New York by steamship.

8. The launch of the SS Great Britain was yet another Isambard accomplishment

Isambard Kingdom Brunel at the Launching of the SS Great Eastern (sometimes called Leviathan) with John Scott Russell and Lord Derby. Photo by Robert Howlett –

       The SS Great Western was launched in 1838. That was the first steamship purpose-built for crossing the Atlantic. It was also used regularly for transatlantic passenger travel between 1838 and 1846. The GWR was a wooden, iron-strapped, and side-wheel paddle steamer which has four masts to hoist auxiliary sails.

9. Brunel also designed a hospital for the Crimean War

Statue of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Saltash. Photo by Kevin Hale –

There was an outbreak of several diseases such as Malaria, dysentery, typhoid, and cholera on the British soldiers when Britain entered the Crimean war in 1854. It is then that Florence Nightingale sent a plea to The Times for the government to produce a solution.

Following this, Brunel was asked to design a pre-fabricated hospital that could be transported to Turkey and quickly constructed. This was a success as Renkioi hospital provided access to ventilation, drainage, and sanitation.

10. What led to Brunel鈥檚 death and how his legacy still lives on

Isambard Kingdom Brunel … The STEAM museum Swindon. Photo by BazzaDaRambler –

Isambard鈥檚 final and most ambitious project was the SS Great Eastern. The motive here was to take passengers non-stop from London to Sydney. The maiden voyage was a disaster, as the ship was damaged by an explosion.

Brunel was not aware of these events, as he tested SS Great Eastern鈥檚 engines before she set sail. Unfortunately, Brunel suffered a stroke on the deck, most probably as a result of heavy smoking during his lifetime.

He thereafter returned to his home at 18 Dule Street where he passed on 10 days after at the age of 53 years.