Civil Engineer, born Hacqueville, Normandy, France. Educated in France, but forced to flee to the United States after publicly predicting the demise of Robespierre. He submitted a design for the Capitol building which was not selected. He sailed for England in 1799 with designs for a machine to produce pulley blocks. He designed the Thames tunnel from Rotherhithe to Wapping, which is believed to be the first to have been built under a navigable river. Knighted 1841. Father of the better known Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Died at 1 Park Prospect, St James's Park.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk
