BRUNEL, ISAMIIARD Kixonolt, an eminent engineer, son of the following article, b. at Portsmouth, England, in 1806, was educated at the college of Henri Quatre, Caen, in France. He commenced practical engineering in 1826, under his father at the Thames tunnel, and in the progress of that great work was often exposed to danger from the water breaking in and the excavations, having more than once to save his life by swimming. He assisted in his father's experiments for making carbonic acid gas a motive power, and was designer and civil engineer of the Great Western, the first steam ship built to cross the Atlantic; and of the Great Britain, the first ocean screw-steamer. The Great Eastern, the largest vessel ever built in the world, was erected under his sole direction. In 1833, B. was appointed chief-engineer to the Great Western railway, and designed and constructed the whole of the tunnels, bridges. viaducts, and arches on this
line, and extension branches. Among other docks at English seaports, in the improve ment and construction of which he was engaged, may be mentioned the Bute docks at Cardiff, and the old North dock at Sunderland. In 1842, he was employed by govern ment to construct the Hungerford suspension-bridge across the Thames at Charing Cross, London. In 1850-53, lie constructed the works of the Tuscan portion of the Sardinian railway. Made a fellow of the royal society in 1830. lie was chosen on the council in 1844. He was also vice-president of the institution of civil engineers, and of the society of arts; a fellow of the astronomical. geological, and geographical societies, and cheva lier of the legion of honor. He died suddenly, Sept,, 1859.