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Although it is impossible to accurately
calculate the number of engineers to have graduated from the School
since its creation at the time of the Restoration
(at least 8 000), it is fair to say that they include some of the country’s
most brilliant engineers and industrialists, many of whom are even more celebrated
abroad than at home. |
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Benoît Fourneyron
(1802-1867), inventor of the hydraulic turbine.
One of
the School’s first graduates was a young experimenter/innovator
from Saint-Étienne, Benoît Fourneyron. His natural
curiosity rapidly paid dividends when in 1827 he completed work
on a hydraulic motor, now known as the Fourneyron turbine. Described
as “a wheel of universal and continuous pressure” this
40hp turbine challenged the power of steam and is considered
one of the most important inventions to come out of 19th century
Europe.
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Jean-Baptiste Boussingault (1802-1887)
Graduated in the School’s second year of existence and is
widely acknowledged as the father of modern agronomics.
After his studies, this renowned chemist left for Columbia
to carry out his scientific
research, the results of which form the basis of today’s theory
of organic science. He was also the first to establish
a working relationship between agriculture and chemistry.
Boussingault’s
work focused on the significant role of the nitrogen
cycle in arable farming and animal husbandry, and on
the study of photosynthesis.
In the latter part of his life he turned his attention
to metallurgy where he became a pioneer in the field
of steel alloys, perfecting
the chroming process in 1875. |
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Henri Fayol (1841-1925).
In 1916
Fayol published an article entitled “Administration générale
et industrielle” (general and industrial administration). It
was as director of a major mining firm that this ex-student of the
ENSM.SE established his management theory. Five years after the publication
of Taylor’s “Principles of Scientific Management” Fayol’s
theory (called Fayolisme) confirmed the hierarchy of management functions
(administration, commerce, finance and accounting). As a result of
a detailed analysis Fayol defined the role of the company director,
concluding that the key to effective management is planning, organisation,
command and control, the premise upon which today’s management
theory is based. |
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Georges Villiers (1899-1966).
Originally
from Lyons, Georges Villiers distinguished himself
during the French occupation as mayor of Lyons until
1942 when the German army took control of the city.
He fought for the resistance alongside Charles de Gaulle
and Jean Moulin before being deported to Dachau until
his liberation in 1945.
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Georges Villiers is
also the founding father
of the CNPF (Conseil National du Patronat Français – Confederation
of French Industry) forerunner to the MEDEF (Mouvement des Entreprises de France – Association
of French Businesses) over which he presided for
20 years from June 1946. During his time
as president he oversaw the rebuilding
of the national economy and Jean Monnet’s programme of reconstruction. |
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See also: alumni |
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