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Isambard Kingdom Brunel
(1806–1859) was an English
civil
and
mechanical engineer
. The son of French engineer
Marc Isambard Brunel
, he worked under his father as an assistant engineer on the
Thames Tunnel
project for several years until he was seriously injured in a flooding incident. During his recuperation he began a design for a bridge in Bristol, which would later be completed as the
Clifton Suspension Bridge
. In 1833, Brunel was appointed chief engineer of the
Great Western Railway
, overseeing development of the main line from
London
to
Bristol
which was completed in 1841. Brunel's other achievements included the design of the first
transatlantic
steamship and dockyards. This 1857 photograph, titled
Isambard Kingdom Brunel Standing Before the Launching Chains of the Great Eastern
, was taken by
Robert Howlett
. It depicts Brunel standing before a drum of chain used during the launching of
SS
Great Eastern
at
Millwall
in London; he carries a cigar case, and his boots and trousers are muddy.
Photograph credit:
Robert Howlett
; restored by
Bammesk
Archive
–
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