The Express.
London, England, 1849-12-13 00:00:00

DEATH OF SIR L BRUNEL.

This distinguished engineer died yesterday (Wed-
nesday). in his 81st year. Sir Marc Isambert Brunel wss
born at Hacquevile, in Normandy, nnw in the department
do l'Eure, in the year 1789, on an estate which his family has
fur many centuries held, and now hold. He was educated
for the church, but soon evinced so string a predilection for
the phrical se:ionises, and so great • genies for mathematics,
that the superiors of the establishment recommended he
should be educated for some other profession. His
father strongly objected to his adopting the protetsion of an
engineer, and determined that he should be educated for
the Laval service. He entered the royal navy, and made
several voyages to the West Indies, and returned home in
1792 At this time the French revolution was at its height.
As Mr. Brunel entertained royalist opinions, his life was
more than mice in danger, and he was forced to seek safety
in flight. He emigrated to the United States, where nous-
sity, fortunately, compelled him to follow the natural
bent of his mind, and to adopt the profession of • civil
engineer. He was first engaged to survey a large tract of
land near Lake Erie. He was employed in building the
Bowery Theatre, New York, sines burnt down. He furnished
plans for canals and for various machines connected with • can-
nen foundry then being established in the abate of New Yerk.
About 1799 he bad matured his plans for making ship blocks
by machinery. The United States being at that time not
the field for so inventive a genius as Brunei's he determined
upon visiting England and offering his serviette and plans
tor this purpose to the British government. Lord Spencer
became his &Wed and patron. After much opposition to
his plans he was employed to execute them in Portsmouth'
dockyard. To perfect his designs and to erect the machinery
MISS the labour of many years. The block machinery was
finished in 1806, and has continued ever since
in full operation, supplying our fleet with blocks
of a very superior description to thou previously in
use, and at a large annual saving to the public. It was
estimated alibis time that the saving, in the first year,
amounted to 20001. ; and about two-thirds of that rum
were awarded to Mr. Brunel. About two years be ore
the termination of the war, Mr. Brunel invented a
machine for making oboes for the army by machinery.
the value and cheapness of which were fully appreciated, and
they were extensively used; but, the peace of 1815 lessening
the demand, the machinery was ultimately laid aside. Steam
navigation also at that time attracted his attention.
He was engaged in building one of the first
Ramsgate steamboats. He also induced the Ad-
mink! to allow him to build a vessel to try
the experiment of towing sbips out to us, the possibility of
which was then denied. The visit of the Emperor Alexand. r
to this country, after the pesos, lad him to submit to the
emperor a plan for making • tunnel under the Neva, where
the accumulation of ice, and the suddenness with which it
breaks up on the termination of winter, rondered the erec-
tion of a brins a work of great difficulty. This was the
origin of his plan fora tunnel under the 'I biasses, which had
been twice before attempted without success. It was
finished sad opened to the public in 1843, and
will always secure to Sir I. Brunel • high
place amongst the engineers of this country. During Lord
Melbourne's administration Mr. Brunel received the honour
of knighthood. Sir I. Brunel was a vice•peesid,nt of the
Royal Hoch ty, a corresponding member of the Institute of
France, and a vice-president of the Institution of Civil
Engineers. lie was elm a chevalier of the Legion of
linnour. He leaves a widow, Lady Brunel, one son, the
eminent engineer, and two daughters.