Gustave Eiffel

Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, born as Alexandre Gustave Bonickhausen dit Eiffel, was born on December 15th, 1832 to a family of German immigrants. His family later adopted the name Eiffel from the Eifel Mountains in Germany.

In 1843, Gustave Eiffel's mother, Catherine Eiffel, sold her successful charcoal and coal-distribution business and retired on the proceeds.

Gustave Eiffel was born on August 31, 1850, in Dijon, France. His family originally hailed from Germany and later relocated to Paris in the 18th Century.

In 1855, Gustave Eiffel graduated from École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures, specializing in chemistry and ranking 13th out of 80 candidates. This was also the year Paris hosted a World's Fair.

In 1857, Gustave Eiffel negotiated a contract to build a railway bridge over the river Garonne at Bordeaux. The project involved constructing a 500m iron girder bridge supported by innovative techniques such as compressed air caissons and hydraulic rams.

Gustave Eiffel was entrusted by Charles Nepveu to design and oversee the construction of the Bordeaux Bridge in 1858. His successful completion of this project led to further bridge contracts and established his reputation in the field of engineering.

In 1865, Gustave Eiffel resigned from Compagnie Belge and started working as an independent consulting engineer. He had already been working on the construction of railway stations and overseeing the construction of locomotives for the Egyptian government.

In 1866, Gustave Eiffel started his own business specializing in various types of metal construction.

In 1867, Gustave Eiffel designed the lofty, arched Gallery of Machines for the Paris Exhibition. This showcased his early expertise in metal construction.

St. Mark's Cathedral in Arica, Peru, was an all-metal prefabricated building designed by Gustave Eiffel. Originally intended for Ancón, it was relocated to Arica after the old church was destroyed by an earthquake.

In 1868, Gustave Eiffel entered into a partnership with Théophile Seyrig, a fellow graduate of the École Centrale, to form the company Eiffel et Cie.

In 1875, Eiffel et Cie secured two significant contracts - one for the innovative Budapest Nyugati railway station design and the other for a challenging bridge over the river Douro in Portugal.

In 1876, Gustave Eiffel worked on the construction of the Porto viaduct over the river Douro. This project was one of the early achievements in Eiffel's career as a constructor.

By the end of October 1877, Gustave Eiffel's company completed the construction of the bridge over the river Douro in Portugal, featuring a unique design with iron piers and a central supporting arch.

The Exposition Universelle in 1878 solidified Gustave Eiffel's reputation as a leading engineer of the time. He showcased models and drawings of his company's work and was involved in constructing several exhibition buildings.

The Garabit Viaduct was created on September 30, 1879.

In 1880, Gustave officially changed his last name to 'Eiffel', which became synonymous with the iconic Eiffel Tower.

Gustave Eiffel was involved with the Statue of Liberty project on November 23, 1881.

The iconic Eiffel Tower was completed in Paris, France, becoming a symbol of architectural and engineering marvel.

In May 1886, Edouard Lockroy announced a change in the terms of the open competition for a centerpiece for the Exposition, making Gustave Eiffel's design the likely choice by requiring all entries to include a study for a 300m metal tower.

In June 1886, a commission examined Gustave Eiffel's proposal along with other designs and concluded that only Eiffel's met their requirements, solidifying his selection for the iconic tower.

On January 8, 1887, Gustave Eiffel signed a contract for the construction of the Eiffel Tower, receiving financial support and commercial exploitation rights for the exhibition and the following two decades.

The digging work for the construction of the Eiffel Tower began on January 26, 1887, as part of the preparations for the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris.

The construction of the iconic Eiffel Tower started on January 28, 1887. It was designed by Gustave Eiffel and his team.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, designed by Gustave Eiffel, was constructed between 1887 and 1889. It is one of the most iconic landmarks in the world.

Gustave Eiffel supported the idea of a better designed tower project and subsequently acquired the rights to the patent.

Despite Gustave Eiffel's careful work on the project, the liquidation of Compagnie du Canal in February 4, 1889, led to his indictment for fraud alongside De Lesseps and his son. Eiffel was sentenced to two years in prison and a fine of 2000 francs, even though he was not personally responsible for the situation.

The construction of the Eiffel Tower was completed on March 15, 1889. It became a symbol of France and a beloved landmark in Paris.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris, designed by Gustave Eiffel, was officially opened to the public on March 31, 1889.

On September 10, 1889, Thomas Edison visited Gustave Eiffel and gifted him the 'Class M' phonograph. Eiffel, a technology enthusiast, frequently used the phonograph to record voices and conversations of his loved ones and guests.

In 1891, Gustave Eiffel was recorded by a phonograph gifted by Thomas Edison, capturing his joyful voice and sentences.

Gustave Eiffel's voice was recorded on a phonograph in 1899, allowing his voice to be preserved and heard through the ages.

Details about Gustave Eiffel's later career on July 22, 1905.

In 1909, Gustave Eiffel constructed his first wind tunnel at the laboratory on the Champ de Mars. This wind tunnel was instrumental in investigating the characteristics of airfoil sections used in early aviation.

In 1911, Gustave Eiffel's aerodynamic wind tunnel was moved to the 16th district to provide a more spacious research laboratory area.

In 1912, Gustave Eiffel moved his aerodynamic experiments to a new establishment at Auteuil due to noise complaints from nearby residents. This relocation allowed for the construction of a larger wind tunnel.

In 1913, Gustave Eiffel was honored with the Samuel P. Langley Medal for his contributions to the field of aerodynamics.

Gustave Eiffel passed away on December 27, 1923, while listening to Beethoven's 5th symphony andante in his Paris mansion. He was laid to rest in the family tomb at Levallois-Perret Cemetery.

Gustave Eiffel, the famous French civil engineer known for his innovative metal construction designs, passed away in Paris on December 28, 1923.

In 1937, the Compagnie des Etablissements Eiffel changed its name to Anciens Etablissements Eiffel. This change marked a significant shift in the company's identity.

Gustave Eiffel's voice is preserved for future generations thanks to the phonograph. This technological marvel allows us to hear the iconic architect's voice from the past.