1540-1576

French mathematician and inventor who was Leonardo da Vinci's successor as engineer to the French court. Around 1568, Besson devised his best-known invention, the first useable screw cutting lathe. In 1569, the inventor published a book on mechanical arts entitled Theatrum Instrumentorum et Machinarum, which included illustrations of his various machines. Besson also developed an improved vertical water mill, the principles of which were applied to a power turbine installed in the mid-1800s in waterworks throughout Europe.