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Gustave Eiffel
Leading the company that built the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty’s internal framework.
Garabit Viaduct · Statue of Liberty
- Born
- 15 December 1832
- Birthplace
- Dijon, France
- Died
- 27 December 1923
More people
Gustave Eiffel
Gustave Eiffel was a French engineer and contractor specialising in metal structures. His company built bridges and public buildings before creating the Paris landmark that bears his name.
Early life
Dijon upbringing
Grew up in a family whose business interests included the coal trade.
Engineering education
Graduated from the École Centrale in Paris in 1855.
Career
- 1850s–1860s
Bridge construction
Supervised railway-bridge work in Bordeaux before establishing his own business.
- 1870s–1880s
International projects
Expanded into major bridges and metal frameworks abroad.
- 1887–1889
Tower construction
Led construction of the tower for the Paris world’s fair.
- Later career
Experimental research
Devoted increasing attention to meteorology and aerodynamics.
Contributions
Garabit Viaduct
An iron railway viaduct spanning a deep valley in central France.
Statue of Liberty
His company provided the statue’s internal supporting structure.
Eiffel Tower
A 300-metre iron structure built for the Paris exhibition.
Beyond work
Wind research
Established wind tunnels to study aerodynamic forces.
Family
Married Marguerite Gaudelet and raised five children.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗The engineers behind the tower ↗Photo: Nadar. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
