Charles Combes
Charles-Pierre-Mathieu Combes (26 December 1801 – 11 January 1872) was a French engineer. He was Inspector-General of Mines and the Director of the School of Mines in Paris. His name is on the Eiffel Tower.[1]
Biography
Charles-Pierre-Mathieu Combes was born on 26 December 1801 in Cahors. His father was a senior policeman named Pierre Combes Mathieu. He joined the Ecole Polytechnique before the usual starting age of seventeen on 1 September 1817 and completed his studies in 1820 when he was admitted to the School of Mines. Combes completed the three-year course in just two years. He graduated on 1 July 1822.[2]
In 1825 he became a teacher of mathematics at the Ecole de Saint-Etienne, a post he held for two years. He then worked in industry but returned to the Saint-Etienne school in 1827 and stayed until 1831.
In 1832 he started at the School of Mines in Paris.
Combes' wife Louise Pauline (born Bousquet) died young in 1841.[3]
Combes took an interest in his students. A young Marcel Deprez failed to complete the course at the School of Mines. He must have made a good impression as he was employed as Combes' secretary.[4] Deprez went on to show that electricity could be transmitted over long distances.
He has been recognised as a model of what is now called a consultant engineer. He was called on to arbitrate in disputes. He ruled on the ventilation of the mines in Belgium as well as advising foundries and collieries.[5]
In 1868 he chaired the General Council of Mines. He was given a number of honours. In 1860 he was made a Commander of the Legion of honour. In 1868 he was awarded the Italian Commander of the Order of St. Maurice and Lazarus and he was made a Commander of the Order of Leopold of Belgium.[5]
Combes died in Paris in 1872 and left a son and two daughters. One of his daughters married the chemist Charles Friedel.[5] He was buried with his wife, Louise Pauline. Pierre Antoine Combes (1831–72) shares the same grave.[3]
Legacy
Combes was one of seventy-two people whom Gustav Eiffel chose as people who had made his achievement of building the Eiffel Tower possible. Combes is number fifty in this list.[1] His name is on the side opposite the military academy.[6]
References
- ^ a b Hydraulic Engineering Legends listed on the Eiffel Tower, Hubert Chanson, docstoc.com, accessed April 2010
- ^ Eulogy, Speech on his tomb, Annales.org, in French, accessed April 2010
- ^ a b Charles Combes, lachaise.net, accessed April 2010
- ^ The Engine Indicator, John Walters, Chapter 8, p.8-20
- ^ a b c Charles Combes Archived 2009-05-16 at the Wayback Machine, quercy.net, accessed April 2010
- ^ Names on the tower, tour-eiffel.fr, accessed April 2010
