Brunel timeline

Isambard Kingdom Brunel is born, to parents Marc and Sophia.

Brunel is appointed Resident Engineer on the Thames Tunnel, taking over from his father.

Brunel narrowly escapes death when roof collapses. He later hosts a banquet in the tunnel to restore confidence.

Brunel wins competition to build a bridge across the Avon river gorge at Clifton. Work starts in 1831 but is abandoned in 1843.

First mail carried by train, between Liverpool and Manchester.

Brunell appointed Chief Engineer to Great Western Railway.

Work begins on Box Tunnel.

Brunel becomes engineer of Great Western Steam Ship Co. and work begins in Bristol on paddle steamer Great Western.

Brunel marries Mary Horsley. 

PS Great Western sails from Bristol to New York in 15 days, carrying transatlantic mail.

Maidenhead Bridge completed.

First Travelling Post Office train between Birmingham and Liverpool, with letters sorted on the move.

Universal Penny Postage introduced in Britain on 10 January. The world's first stamp, the Penny Black, is issued on 6 May.

Box Tunnel completed, and Great Western Railway route from London to Bristol opened.

Bristol Temple Meads Station completed.

Maiden voyage of SS Great Britain. Brunel's Hungerford suspension footbridge crosses the River Thames.

Speculative boom in railway share trading - 'Railway Mania' - is at its peak.

The last London horse-drawn Mail Coach leaves for Norwich.

Work begins on Royal Albert Bridge, Saltash.

Construction of Paddington Station begins.

1852

The first British pillar boxes are erected on Jersey.

Keel of SS Great Eastern laid in Millwall, London.

Paddington station opens.

The first London pillar boxes appear.

1857

London is divided into ten postal districts based on the points of the compass.

SS Great Eastern finally launched in January.

Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash opened in May by Prince Albert.

1859

Brunel dies on 11 September, ten days after suffering a stroke.

SS Great Eastern makes maiden voyage, carrying just 35 paying passengers (but over 400 crew). 

Clifton Suspension Bridge finally completed as a tribute to Brunel by the Institute of Civil Engineers.