(April 9, 1806 – September 15, 1859)

Imperialism gave Britain an unrivaled access to global markets from 18th to 20th century. Raw materials from Africa, America, Asia and Australia came cheaply and abundantly. These fuelled the Industrial Revolution which spanned decades. Great wealth from merchants and royals financed all kinds of industries. British peasants got jobs as factories and corporations sprang-up. This revolution triggered-off projects which were equally matched by great engineering feats. No engineer was more prepared than Isambard Kingdom Brunel for what the future held. Astute, flamboyant and daring, Brunel (who apprenticed under his father) seized the opportunity to shine. His ingenuity coupled with meticulous designs, brought him immediate fame. From bridges to railways, and all the way to docks and ship-building, he undertook them all. No venture seemed unrealistic to him: for as long as he got financiers. In just a decade, he oversaw the radical reinventions of both civil and mechanical engineering. Except for the-then infant electrical-electronic branch, nothing escaped his touch. Several of Brunel’s inventions (e.g.: the first double iron-hull ship) were the firsts of their kinds. As the revolution peaked, Britain led the world in technology. And “Brunel” became a catchphrase for ingenuity. Although some of his projects were economic failures, an elated Britain remained appreciative of her brilliant son. Isambard Brunel was the greatest engineer of the Industrial Revolution era. And so far, only Nikola Tesla has surpassed his overall engineering attainments. He is revered in England; and many monuments scattered across British Isles are dedicated to him.

19 Comments

  1. You appeared to know so much about this, like you wrote a book or something. I think that you drove the messages home. Your blog is magnificent, and I will be back.

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