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I was born in Jamaica in the West Indies in 1805. My mother ran a nursing home, so I learned to be a skilled nurse. When I was nearly 50 years old, there was a war in a place called the Crimea. I was shocked to read that there were hardly any trained nurses and the hospitals were filthy dirty and full of disease. I was determined to go and help. I had to use my own money to go and start a proper hospital to look after the wounded soldiers. I saved many lives. Afterwards, I wrote a book about my adventures and was awarded medals. I was born in Portsmouth. My father came from France. He was an engineer and inventor who was building the first tunnel under the River Thames. I started to work for my father, but I was hurt in an accident. While I was recovering, I designed a famous bridge that you can still see today across the River Avon near Bristol. People were so impressed with my work, that I was asked to design and build a railway between London and Bristol. I designed all the tunnels and bridges to carry the railway. I organised the building of the tracks, the trains and the stations. I didn't stop with the railway. I invented steamships to carry people from Bristol to America. I was one of the most important engineers ever. My bridges, railways and buildings are still used today.

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