Look at this man.
He fell 20 feet into a burning ship, nearly drowned building a tunnel, and bankrupted multiple companies.
But his "reckless" ambitions made him one of the most important engineer in world history.
Sadly his legacy is a heartbreaking tragedy.... 🧵 x.com
He fell 20 feet into a burning ship, nearly drowned building a tunnel, and bankrupted multiple companies.
But his "reckless" ambitions made him one of the most important engineer in world history.
Sadly his legacy is a heartbreaking tragedy.... 🧵 x.com
Isambard Kingdom Brunel was born in 1806, learning engineering from his father Marc - Britain's most prominent engineer.
But Marc was terrible with money, sinking fortunes into failed inventions.
He even spent 10 humiliating weeks in debtors' prison. Young Isambard never forgot this lesson.
But Marc was terrible with money, sinking fortunes into failed inventions.
He even spent 10 humiliating weeks in debtors' prison. Young Isambard never forgot this lesson.
At just 20, Brunel faced his first near-death experience.
While building the Thames Tunnel - the world's first underwater tunnel - he was carried away unconscious by a flood wave.
An engineer rescued him at the last second. But this brush with death only fueled his ambition. x.com
While building the Thames Tunnel - the world's first underwater tunnel - he was carried away unconscious by a flood wave.
An engineer rescued him at the last second. But this brush with death only fueled his ambition. x.com
The Thames Tunnel project was revolutionary.
Previous attempts ended in disaster.
Brunel's father invented a tunneling shield inspired by shipworms - creatures that tunnel through wood without collapse.
This same principle is still used in modern tunnel-boring machines today. x.com
Previous attempts ended in disaster.
Brunel's father invented a tunneling shield inspired by shipworms - creatures that tunnel through wood without collapse.
This same principle is still used in modern tunnel-boring machines today. x.com
But the tunnel nearly broke him:
• Workers fainted from toxic fumes
• Multiple floods killed workers
• Project paused for years due to money
• Took 2 decades to complete
Yet in 1843, they finished the world's first tunnel under a major body of water. x.com
• Workers fainted from toxic fumes
• Multiple floods killed workers
• Project paused for years due to money
• Took 2 decades to complete
Yet in 1843, they finished the world's first tunnel under a major body of water. x.com
During this time, Brunel wrote in his diary:
"I should pass through life as most people...live in a small house...My father may die, or the Tunnel may fail, and I most likely...cut my throat or hang myself."
His ambitions were already consuming him.
"I should pass through life as most people...live in a small house...My father may die, or the Tunnel may fail, and I most likely...cut my throat or hang myself."
His ambitions were already consuming him.
After being rejected twice as a railway engineer, Brunel finally got his break:
The Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Originally designed for horse carriages, it was so ahead of its time that it still carries 12,000 vehicles daily in modern times.
Pure genius. x.com
The Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Originally designed for horse carriages, it was so ahead of its time that it still carries 12,000 vehicles daily in modern times.
Pure genius. x.com
His most brilliant innovation?
The Great Western Railway from London to Bristol.
While competitors chose cheaper routes through populated areas, Brunel chose a smoother path through empty land.
They laughed at first. Then his "Brunel's Billiard Table" became the fastest route in Britain.
The Great Western Railway from London to Bristol.
While competitors chose cheaper routes through populated areas, Brunel chose a smoother path through empty land.
They laughed at first. Then his "Brunel's Billiard Table" became the fastest route in Britain.
His obsession with first principles was legendary.
He questioned the standard railway gauge of 4ft 8.5in, proving mathematically that his broader 7ft gauge would be:
• More stable
• More comfortable
• Allow higher speeds
The man was decades ahead of his time. x.com
He questioned the standard railway gauge of 4ft 8.5in, proving mathematically that his broader 7ft gauge would be:
• More stable
• More comfortable
• Allow higher speeds
The man was decades ahead of his time. x.com
But Brunel wasn't done. He had a vision:
Build the largest ships in history.
First came the SS Great Western - 236 feet long.
Then the SS Great Britain - 322 feet long.
But his final ship would be his masterpiece... and his downfall. x.com
Build the largest ships in history.
First came the SS Great Western - 236 feet long.
Then the SS Great Britain - 322 feet long.
But his final ship would be his masterpiece... and his downfall. x.com
The Great Eastern was NINE TIMES larger than any ship before it:
• 692 feet in length
• Could carry 4,000 passengers
• Designed for non-stop trips to Australia
• Featured revolutionary dual propulsion
It was an engineering dream. And a financial nightmare. x.com
• 692 feet in length
• Could carry 4,000 passengers
• Designed for non-stop trips to Australia
• Featured revolutionary dual propulsion
It was an engineering dream. And a financial nightmare. x.com
The ship's construction was cursed:
• Cost exploded to £600,000
• Two companies went bankrupt
• Brunel worked without salary
• Paid assistants from his pocket
• No port could handle its size
But Brunel refused to give up on his vision. x.com
• Cost exploded to £600,000
• Two companies went bankrupt
• Brunel worked without salary
• Paid assistants from his pocket
• No port could handle its size
But Brunel refused to give up on his vision. x.com
Then tragedy struck.
On September 7, 1859, during the Great Eastern's maiden voyage, the heater exploded killing 6 crew members.
Brunel, already ill, was devastated.
8 days later, at just 53 years old, he died - his greatest ship incomplete.
On September 7, 1859, during the Great Eastern's maiden voyage, the heater exploded killing 6 crew members.
Brunel, already ill, was devastated.
8 days later, at just 53 years old, he died - his greatest ship incomplete.
The Great Eastern never fulfilled its passenger ship destiny.
Instead, it laid the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable.
When finally scrapped, it took 200 men two years to dismantle - a testament to Brunel's overengineering. x.com
Instead, it laid the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable.
When finally scrapped, it took 200 men two years to dismantle - a testament to Brunel's overengineering. x.com
Brunel's friend Daniel Gooch captured his essence perfectly:
"By his death, the greatest of England's engineers was lost, the man with the greatest originality of thought and power of execution." x.com
"By his death, the greatest of England's engineers was lost, the man with the greatest originality of thought and power of execution." x.com
Brunel never built his "castle in the sky" - the retirement home he dreamed of.
But he left us something greater:
The bridges, tunnels, and railways that built our modern world.
Sometimes the greatest achievements come at the highest personal cost. x.com
But he left us something greater:
The bridges, tunnels, and railways that built our modern world.
Sometimes the greatest achievements come at the highest personal cost. x.com
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"I've always found the, the wisest and safest plans go straight in the direction that you believe to be right, and to plan without fear or compromise." -- Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Thank you for reading the thread.
Follow @GeniusGTX for more threads celebrating genius thinkers throughout history.
Thank you for reading the thread.
Follow @GeniusGTX for more threads celebrating genius thinkers throughout history.
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