Timeline

1806
Isambard Kingdom Brunel is born, to parents Marc and Sophia. on April 9 in Portsmouth.
1818
Marc Brunel invents and patents the tunnelling shield.
1825
Work begins on digging the Thames tunnel.
1827
I.K. Brunel is appointed Resident Engineer on the Thames Tunnel, taking over from his father. Roof collapses and tunnel flooded. Brunel narrowly escapes death. He later hosts a banquet in the tunnel to restore confidence.
1831
I.K. Brunel wins competition to build a bridge across the Avon river gorge at Clifton in Bristol. Work starts in 1831 but is abandoned in 1843.
1832
I K Brunel Begins association with Bristol Docks
1833
Brunel appointed Chief Engineer to Great Western Railway and starts surveying route. Begins modernisation of Bristol Docks.
1835
Great Western Railway Bill passed in Parliament. GWR accept Brunel’s broad gauge proposal. Work restarted on Thames Tunnel. Brunel proposes building a steamship for the Bristol-New York service.
1836
Work begins on Box Tunnel. Appointed engineer of Great Western Steam Ship Company and construction begin. Brunel marries Mary Horsley.
1837
Launch of hull of the Great Western in Bristol. Daniel Gooch made GWR Locomotive Superintendent.
1838
SS Great Western sails from Bristol to New York in 15 days. Work begins on Bristol Temple Meads station
1839
Maidenhead Bridge completed.
1840
Swindon chosen as motive power base for Great Western Railway
1841
Box Tunnel completed, Bristol Temple Meads Station completed and Great Western Railway route from London to Bristol opened. Marc Brunel knighted.
1843
Thames tunnel opened to public (25 March). Launch of SS Great Britain (19 July). Brunel's Hungerford suspension footbridge crosses the River Thames. Visits Italy to engineer two railways. Appointed engineer of South Devon Railway. Swindon Locomotive Works opened.
1845
'Railway Mania' - is at its peak. Maiden voyage of SS Great Britain.
1847
Innovative atmospheric system used on Exeter – Teignmouth stretch of South Devon Railway.
1848
Work begins on Royal Albert Bridge, Saltash
1849
Death of Marc Brunel (12 Dec)
1852
Construction of Paddington Station begins.
1854
Keel of SS Great Eastern laid in Millwall, London. Paddington station opens.
1857
Two attempts to launch SS Great Eastern
1858
SS Great Eastern finally launched in January.
1859
Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash opened in May by Prince Albert. Brunel dies on 15 September, ten days after suffering a stroke
1860
SS Great Eastern makes maiden voyage, carrying just 35 paying passengers (and crew of over 400!).
1864
Clifton Suspension Bridge finally completed as a tribute to Brunel by the Institute of Civil Engineers.