Isambard Kingdom Brunel
This handsome chap is Isambard Kingdom Brunel and as someone who lives in Bristol, I am very proud of him! He was a Victorian engineer who seemed to have a passion for steel. Among his creations that are still with us(and can be seen in and around Bristol) are the Great Western Railway, the SS Great Britain ( the first propeller-driven ocean-going iron ship) and the wonderful Clifton suspension Bridge.
Not all his projects were a success but they always had an element of innovation about them. In 2002 he was placed second in a poll to see the ‘100 Greatest Britons’ and in 2006 Bristol celebrated his bicentenary in grand style.
Thanks to Jenny Matlock for letting me share this amazing man with you. We have reached the letter ‘I’ in the Alphabe- Thursday series. Do pop over to her blog to see what the others have posted!
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An incredible link for an innovative thinker!
What a beautiful bridge!
Thanks for letting us share it with you!
A+
I LOVE innovative thinkers. I expect Isambard Kingdom Brunel was and his creative endevours are proof of his accomplishments. Bravo.
His suspension bridge is awe-inspiring – I wonder how many people at the time were making bets nobody could build a bridge across that gorge?
What a lot of accomplishments – and what a name. I wonder how he got it?…off to look on google.
That’s one sturdy looking and beautiful bridge!
It’s stunning at night when it’s lit up!
love that bridge! What a nice scupture too! (btw – you need a second zero in your second paragraph!) {:-Deb
Thank you!
I really like that bridge. Thank you for sharing this and now I have a new bridge I like (yes I like bridges) and a face to go with it.
It’s a good one one to have in your catalogue!
My grandfather designed and built bridges, but none so fine as the one in the photo. Great “I” post!!
Wow! What a great thing to. Be able to boast about!
As my husband is a fan of his, I have to emarrassingly admit that one of my vintage teddies is named Isambard. He named the old boy after an ‘Old Boy’.
Liz
It’s one of those names that signifies strength & creativity I think.
The bridge seems so STALWART! what a great engineer he must have been. 🙂
He was always able to think outside the box!
Thank you for sharing this short introduction to an obviously very remarkable man.
Is there no such thing as coincidence? At the weekend I included this great engineer in an article about the ‘steampunk’ genre of art, fashion, design and literature. We, too, have an affinity with him as he was born in Portsmouth – just down the road.
I like coincidence!