Editing Marc Isambard Brunel (section)

== Debtors' prison ==
Despite an historically successful endeavor—a "pioneering enterprise in mass production"—in the automation of [[pulley | block]] manufacturing,{{sfnp|Gilbert|1965}} and his recognition in 1814 as a [[Royal Society]] Fellow,{{sfnp|Waterston|Shearer|2006|p=131}} the payment difficulties experienced with the Admiralty{{sfnp|Bagust|2006|pp=22–50}}{{Page range too broad|date=April 2025}} and further unprofitable ventures led, by early 1821, to Burnel's being deeply in debt; in May of that year he was tried,{{what|date=April 2025}} and then committed to the [[King's Bench Prison]] (a [[debtors' prison]]) in [[Southwark]]. Prisoners in a debtors' prison were allowed to have their family with them, and Sophia accompanied him. Brunel spent 88 days incarcerated. As time passed with no prospect of gaining release, Brunel began to correspond with [[Alexander I of Russia]] about the possibility of moving with his family to [[St Petersburg]] to work for the [[Tsar]]. As soon as it was learnt that Britain was likely to lose such an eminent engineer as Brunel, influential figures, such as the [[Duke of Wellington]], began to press for government intervention. The government granted £5,000 to clear Brunel's debts on condition that he abandon any plans to go to Russia. As a result, Brunel was released from prison in August.{{sfnp|Bagust|2006|pp=51–57}}