Sophia Kingdom
Sophia Kingdom | |
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Born | Sophia Kingdom (1775-02-15)15 February 1775 Plymouth, Devon, England |
Died | 5 January 1855(1855-01-05) (aged 79) |
Nationality | British |
Known for | Mother of Isambard Kingdom Brunel |
Spouse | Marc Isambard Brunel (m. 1799) |
Children | 3; including Isambard Kingdom Brunel |
Sophia Kingdom (15 February 1775 – 5 January 1855), later known as Lady Brunel, was the mother of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Her father was William Kingdom, a contracting agent for the Royal Navy and the army, and her mother was Joan Spry. She was born in Plymouth, England.[1] She was the youngest of sixteen children. When she was eight years old, her father William died (1783).
Sophia Kingdom was sent to France to improve her knowledge of the French language. She became ill on the journey over, and whilst her travelling companions decided to return to England to avoid the escalating unrest in France, she was unable to accompany them and instead remained in France.[2] While working there as a governess she met Marc Isambard Brunel (1769–1849) at Rouen in the early 1790s. In 1793, Marc Brunel had to flee the French Revolution, going to the United States, but Sophia remained in Rouen. During the Reign of Terror, she was arrested as an English spy, and daily expected to be executed. She was only saved by the fall of Robespierre in June 1794. In April 1795, Sophia Kingdom was able to leave France and travel to London.[3]
Marc Brunel remained in the United States for six years, sailing for England in February 1799. He immediately searched for and found Sophia Kingdom in London. They married on 1 November 1799.
They had two daughters, Sophia Macnamara and Emma, followed by a son, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, born on 9 April 1806. Isambard was one of the greatest engineers of the 19th century.[4][5]
Sophia's sister, Elizabeth Kingdom (1761–1856), married Thomas (1760–1843) the namesake son of Thomas Mudge, the horologist.
TBM
A Tunnel Boring Machine on Crossrail is named for Sophia.
References
- ^ "Isambard Kingdom Brunel: Family History". Tracing Ancestors in the UK. 3 February 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
- ^ "Womens History Month: Who was Lady Sophia Brunel?". Brunel Museum. 14 March 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
- ^ Bagust, Harold (2006). The Greater Genius?. Ian Allan Publishing. pp. 22–50. ISBN 0-7110-3175-4.
- ^ "One of the most ingenious and prolific figures in engineering history". design.designmuseum.org.
- ^ "One of the 19th century engineering giants". ssgreatbritain.org.
Sources
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- Great Western
- Bristol and Exeter
- Bristol and Gloucester
- Bristol and South Wales Union
- Cheltenham and Great Western Union
- Cornwall
- Dartmouth and Torbay
- East Somerset
- Great Western and Brentford
- Llynvi Valley
- Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton
- South Devon
- South Devon and Tavistock
- South Wales
- South Wales Mineral
- Taff Vale
- Vale of Neath
- West Cornwall
- West Somerset
- Wilts, Somerset and Weymouth
- Angarrack viaduct
- Avon Bridge
- Bath:St James's Bridge; Skew Bridge; St James' Viaduct
- Bishop's Bridge
- Chepstow Bridge
- Chippenham viaduct
- Clifton Suspension Bridge
- Cornwall Railway viaducts
- Cumberland Basin swing bridges
- "Devil's Bridge", Uphill
- Gatehampton Railway Bridge
- Hungerford Bridge
- Landore Viaduct
- Loughor Viaduct
- Maidenhead Bridge
- Moulsford Railway Bridge
- Royal Albert Bridge
- Somerset Bridge
- Three Bridges, London
- Usk Bridge
- Wharncliffe Viaduct
- Windsor Bridge
- Great Western Steamship Company
- SS Great Western
- SS Great Britain
- SS Great Eastern
- Isambard Kingdom Brunel Standing Before the Launching Chains of the Great Eastern (1857 photograph)
- SS Archimedes borrowed by Brunel, used for propeller tests
- Brentford Dock
- Bristol Harbour
- Cumberland Basin
- Underfall Yard
- Millbay Docks
- Westport Canal
- Atmospheric railway
- Balloon flange girder
- Baulk road
- Broad gauge
- Brook House, Steventon
- Crew's Hole tar works
- Crystal Palace water towers
- Great Exhibition (Brunel on committee)
- Malmaison Hotel, Reading
- Renkioi Hospital
- Fellow of the Royal Society
- Institution of Civil Engineers (VP from 1850)
- Abraham-Louis Breguet (trained Brunel)
- Robert Pearson Brereton (Chief assistant)
- Marc Isambard Brunel (father)
- Sophia Kingdom (mother)
- Lindsey House (childhood home)
- University of Caen Normandy
- Lycée Henri-IV
- Henry Marc Brunel (second son)
- Scene from A Midsummer Night's Dream (picture commissioned by Brunel)
- Brunel Manor (commissioned by Brunel for his retirement)
- Sarah Guppy, whose portrait was painted by Brunel
- Kensal Green Cemetery
- Statues of Brunel
- Brunel Museum
- Being Brunel
- Broad gauge running line
- Blue plaque, 98 Cheyne Walk
- List of Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmarks (SS Great Britain #97)
- Brunel University London
- NR Brunel (Network Rail typeface)
- Brunel Award
- 100 Greatest Britons (Brunel #2)
- Two Brunel £2 coins in 2006
- 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony featured Brunel
- Brunel (opera project)
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