1802-1867

French hydraulic engineer who first patented a design for hydraulic turbine installations. Though the hydraulic (water-driven) turbine had been invented by Pierre-Simon Girard in 1775, Fourneyron's contribution involved the development of an installation to make use of the turbine's mechanical power. Fourneyron went on the build over 100 of these installations in various parts of the world, where they were used for power for a variety of industrial applications.