Étienne Lenoir (instrument maker)

Étienne Lenoir (* March 1, 1744 in Mer près de Blois ( Loir -et- Cher), † 1832 in Paris) was a French instrument maker.

Not much is known about the youth of Lenoir. He was born in 1744 the son of a stonemason. As a man of humble origins is likely his education have been of short duration, after which he trained as a locksmith. Nevertheless, he was the ( almost ) illiterate a recognized instrument maker.

1772 Lenoir entered into a Parisian workshop of instrument makers as a partner. In 1774 he received the title of Engineering Physics and Mathematics. He quickly became known for his collaboration with Jean -Charles de Borda. Borda recognized the special abilities of Lenoir and confided that in 1783 the construction of his reflection on the circle. 1788 Lenoir eventually became the engineer of the King (French: Ingénieur du Roi ) appointed as one of the first seven members of that body. This title should protect earned engineers to regulation by the guilds and give them room for development. From 1792 Lenoir worked primarily for the Commission des Poids et Mesures.

While in England the instrument maker wrong with the scientists at eye level, was in France a clear social gradient between these two groups. In the years of the revolution Lenoir was awarded several prizes.

Lenoir created in 1794 the provisional standard meter in brass. The two definitive standard meter that has been signed by him, he put on behalf of Borda in 1799 for the Commission des Poids et Mesures in platinum ago. A specimen was deposited in the archives.

Lenoir made ​​a large portion of the instruments that were used in the triangulation of the distance from Dunkirk to Barcelona from 1792 to 1798. In particular, the Bordakreise the expedition were products of his workshop. Employees from Lenoir workshop were involved in this meridian expedition of the Academy, Bellet as an assistant of Jean -Baptiste Joseph Delambre on the Northern Expedition and Esteveny as assistant to Pierre Méchain on the southern expedition.

Lenoir's son Paul- Étienne Lenoir was involved in the mapping of Egypt during the Egyptian expedition of Napoleon. He led the workshop of his father, following his departure from 1800 or 1815 successfully.