Isambard Kingdom Brunel was an important Victorian engineer. Brunel’s father was a French engineer and as a child, Brunel lived in England and France. His first achievement was to work with his father to plan the Thames Tunnel. He then won a competition to design the Clifton Suspension Bridge across the River Avon in Bristol.

In 1833 he was appointed the chief engineer for the Great Western Railway to build the line from London to Bristol. His other achievements included Box Tunnel, Chippenham Viaduct and Bristol Temple Meads Station. He also designed several famous ships including the SS Great Britain and the Great Eastern.