Brunel, Marc Isambard, 1769-1849

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Marc Isambard Brunel was an engineer, probably best known for his work on the Thames Tunnel. Born in Normandy, he showed early skill as an engineer and draughtsman and was given an appropriate education, serving six years at sea. In 1793, he fled the French Revolution for America, working as an engineer and becoming chief engineer of New York, but sailed for England in 1799. He designed block-making equipment for the Royal Navy, and wood working machines for government mills, and was successful but seldom profitable, spending time in debtor's prison in 1821. He experimented with steam navigation, designed a pantograph, and other innovations for a variety of industrial applications, including the tunneling shield which made the Thames Tunnel possible. He was well-known among other scientists of his day, including Humphrey Davy, Michael Faraday, and Charles Babbage, and his son Isambard Kingdom Brunel was also a famous engineer.

From the description of Marc Isambard Brunel letter to My young friend, 1843 Sept. 22. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 144870823

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Brunel, Marc Isambard, Sir, 1769-1849. Autograph letter signed : [n.p.], to P. Hardwicke, 1840 Apr. 10. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Brunel, Marc Isambard, Sir, 1769-1849. Papers. Smithsonian Institution. Libraries
creatorOf Marc Isambard Brunel letter to Colonel Lespinasse, 1826 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Brunel Collection: Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806-1859) papers, 1824-1953 University of Bristol Information Services - Special Collections
creatorOf Brunel, Marc Isambard, Sir, 1769-1849. Marc Isambard Brunel letter to My young friend, 1843 Sept. 22. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Coffin, James H. (James Henry), 1806-1873. James Henry Coffin Papers, 1848-1884 Smithsonian Institution Archives
referencedIn Scientists Collection, 1563-1973 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn Manuscript Albums, 1615 - 1959 Newcastle University: Special Collections
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Avannes, d', fl. 1839. person
associatedWith Bréguet, Abraham Louis, 1747-1823. person
associatedWith Dibner, Bern, person
associatedWith Hardwicke, P., person
correspondedWith Henry, Joseph, 1797-1878 person
associatedWith Hudson, James. person
associatedWith Isambard Kingdom Brunel and others person
associatedWith Ray, Gordon Norton, 1915- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Great Britain
Subject
Engineers
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1769-04-25

Death 1849-12-12

Britons

English,

French

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