Sophia Kingdom

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. While working in France 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, but Sophia remained in Rouen. During the Reign of Terror, she was arrested as an English spy, and 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.

Marc Brunel and Sophia Kingdom 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. Sophia's sister, Elizabeth Kingdom (1761–1856), married Thomas (1760–1843) the namesake son of Thomas Mudge, the horologist. A Tunnel Boring Machine is named after Sophia.