Tech History Made on April 9, 1806

On this day in 1806 I. K. Brunel was born. Brunel was and engineer who helped with change many modes of transportation in Britain. Brunel directed construction of the Thames Tunnel when he was only 19 years old. A bridge he constructed in 1859 carries trains over the river. At 26 he was appointed engineer of the Great Western Railway. His biggest accomplishment came in 1958 with the launching of the Great Eastern a ship. The ship had six boilers, six masts, a propeller and two paddle wheels. The ship was so large it had to be launched sideways. The ship was used to lay cables across the Atlantic ocean, which it did 4 times over in its 30 years in service. Unfortunately Brunel did not live to see its accomplishments, he died in 1959 of s stroke.