Isambard Kingdom Brunel English civil and mechanical engineer Obverse of a medal commemorating his ship the Great Eastern One of the most prolific figures in the annals of British engineering history Brunel initially worked for his father Marc Isambard Brunel on the construction of the Thames Tunnel He was the chief engineer of the Great Western Railway GWR from to for whom he designed many bridges and viaducts including the Royal Albert Bridge Cornwall and Clifton Suspension Bridge Brunel also designed the steamships Great Britain Great Western and Great Eastern