Isambard Kingdom Brunel has been voted as the ‘favourite and most influential engineer’ in a competition launched by BSRIA.
The association launched its INSPIRE commemorative publication last year to coincide with its 60th anniversary. The publication looks at 120 engineers of the past and present to show their achievements and the great impact they’ve had on the industry and the world. BSRIA narrowed down the engineers to a list of 15.
Brunel was the clear winner with 35 per cent of the vote, followed in second place by Leonardo Da Vinci, with just under 17 per cent. Joint third were Tim Berners-Lee, Bill Gates and Alan Turing. Voting closed on New Year’s eve.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel (1806 – 1859) was a British civil and mechanical engineer who is considered by many to be one of the greatest figures of the Industrial Revolution. He undertook many projects, building things such as dockyards, a series of steamships, numerous tunnels and bridges – including the Clifton Suspension Bridge – and, of course, the Great Western Railway.
BSRIA chief executive, Julia Evans, said: “We are delighted Brunel received the most votes. He is clearly one of the most ingenious and prolific figures in engineering history, one of the 19th century engineering giants and one of the greatest figures of the Industrial Revolution who changed the face of the English landscape with his groundbreaking designs and ingenious constructions.”