Brunel, Isambard Kingdom (Shire Library)

Isambard Kingdom Brunel achieved what lesser men failed even to contemplate. The famous sone of a famous father, he was acknowledged in his own lifetime as the greatest engineer in an era of engineering titans. Brunel helped drive the first tunnel under a navigable river, built the first all-iron ship, bridged the Tamar and the Avon, constructed the first railway to run express services and launched the world's first true luxury liner - a vessel five times bigger than any previously attempted.