Difference between revisions of "Andre-Gustave Citroen" - New World Encyclopedia
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André-Gustave was the 5th and last child of the [[Dutch people|Dutch]] [[Jew]]ish [[diamond]] merchant Levie Citroen and Mazra Kleinmann (of [[Warsaw]], [[Poland]]). He was related to the famous British philosopher [[A.J. Ayer]]. The Citroen family moved to [[Paris]] from [[Amsterdam]] in [[1873]]. Upon arrival, the [[Umlaut (diacritic)|diaeresis]] was added to the name, changing Citroen (Dutch for [[Lemon]]) to Citroën. His father committed [[suicide]] when André was only six years old. | André-Gustave was the 5th and last child of the [[Dutch people|Dutch]] [[Jew]]ish [[diamond]] merchant Levie Citroen and Mazra Kleinmann (of [[Warsaw]], [[Poland]]). He was related to the famous British philosopher [[A.J. Ayer]]. The Citroen family moved to [[Paris]] from [[Amsterdam]] in [[1873]]. Upon arrival, the [[Umlaut (diacritic)|diaeresis]] was added to the name, changing Citroen (Dutch for [[Lemon]]) to Citroën. His father committed [[suicide]] when André was only six years old. | ||
| − | André was a graduate of the [[École Polytechnique]] in [[ | + | André was a graduate of the [[École Polytechnique]] in [[1898]] and thereafter worked as an engineer and an industrial designer. In 1908 he helped the [[Mors automobile firm]] increase its production from 125 cars to 1,200 cars per year. During [[World War I]], he was responsible for [[mass production]] of [[weapon|armament]]s. In 1915 he built a munitions plant whose production of shells reached 55,000 per day. Upon this success he was given the responsibility of organizing the supplying of all French munitions plants with raw materials. |
| + | André founded the [[Citroën]] automobile company in [[1919]] by converting his munitions factory, leading it to become the fourth-largest [[automobile]] manufacturer in the world by the early [[1930s]], his aim was to to mass-produce a small, inexpensive automobiles. His industrialist and entrepernurial qualities in the automotive industry have likened him to a european [[Henry Ford]]. New Citroën factories were constructed, and his firm became one of the largest auto-manufacturing companies in France. Citroën financed various scientific expeditions, including one that traveled 8,000 miles (13,000 km) by car from [[Beirut]] to [[Peking]] (1931–32). The lighting of the [[Arc de Triomphe]] and of the [[Place de la Concorde]] were gifts from Citroën to the city of Paris.Refusing to retrench during the Great Depression, Citroën introduced the only popular front-wheel-drive car of its time, the Citroën Seven (1934), but he lost control of his company after it went bankrupt in 1934 and was reorganized in 1935. | ||
He died in Paris, France, of [[stomach cancer]] in [[1935]] and was interred in the [[Cimetière du Montparnasse]] in Paris. In 1992, the [[Parc André Citroën]] public garden in Paris was named after him. In 1998 he was inducted into the [[Automotive Hall of Fame]] in [[Dearborn, Michigan]]. | He died in Paris, France, of [[stomach cancer]] in [[1935]] and was interred in the [[Cimetière du Montparnasse]] in Paris. In 1992, the [[Parc André Citroën]] public garden in Paris was named after him. In 1998 he was inducted into the [[Automotive Hall of Fame]] in [[Dearborn, Michigan]]. | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
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*Reynolds, John. 2006. ''André Citroën engineer, explorer, entrepreneur.'' Sparkford: Haynes. ISBN 9781844253203 | *Reynolds, John. 2006. ''André Citroën engineer, explorer, entrepreneur.'' Sparkford: Haynes. ISBN 9781844253203 | ||
*Reynolds, John. 1996. ''André Citroën the Henry Ford of France.'' New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 9780312165055 | *Reynolds, John. 1996. ''André Citroën the Henry Ford of France.'' New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 9780312165055 | ||
| − | * | + | *Wolgensinger, Jacques. 1991. ''André Citroën.'' [Paris]: Flammarion. ISBN 9782080664846 |
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| + | {{credit|2269311}} | ||
Revision as of 10:31, 29 October 2007
André-Gustave Citroën (November 2, 1878-July 3, 1935) was a French Jewish entrepreneur of Dutch and Polish descent. He is remembered chiefly for the make of car named after him, but also for his invention of double helical gears.
André-Gustave was the 5th and last child of the Dutch Jewish diamond merchant Levie Citroen and Mazra Kleinmann (of Warsaw, Poland). He was related to the famous British philosopher A.J. Ayer. The Citroen family moved to Paris from Amsterdam in 1873. Upon arrival, the diaeresis was added to the name, changing Citroen (Dutch for Lemon) to Citroën. His father committed suicide when André was only six years old.
André was a graduate of the École Polytechnique in 1898 and thereafter worked as an engineer and an industrial designer. In 1908 he helped the Mors automobile firm increase its production from 125 cars to 1,200 cars per year. During World War I, he was responsible for mass production of armaments. In 1915 he built a munitions plant whose production of shells reached 55,000 per day. Upon this success he was given the responsibility of organizing the supplying of all French munitions plants with raw materials.
André founded the Citroën automobile company in 1919 by converting his munitions factory, leading it to become the fourth-largest automobile manufacturer in the world by the early 1930s, his aim was to to mass-produce a small, inexpensive automobiles. His industrialist and entrepernurial qualities in the automotive industry have likened him to a european Henry Ford. New Citroën factories were constructed, and his firm became one of the largest auto-manufacturing companies in France. Citroën financed various scientific expeditions, including one that traveled 8,000 miles (13,000 km) by car from Beirut to Peking (1931–32). The lighting of the Arc de Triomphe and of the Place de la Concorde were gifts from Citroën to the city of Paris.Refusing to retrench during the Great Depression, Citroën introduced the only popular front-wheel-drive car of its time, the Citroën Seven (1934), but he lost control of his company after it went bankrupt in 1934 and was reorganized in 1935. He died in Paris, France, of stomach cancer in 1935 and was interred in the Cimetière du Montparnasse in Paris. In 1992, the Parc André Citroën public garden in Paris was named after him. In 1998 he was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Michigan.
External links
- The early yearsRetrieved October 28, 2007.
- Insecula encyclopedia (in French) Retrieved October 28, 2007.
- CitroënëtRetrieved October 28, 2007.
- [1]The Legacy of André Citroën. Retrieved October 28, 2007.
- [2]A brief History of Andre Citroen and of the 5CV Citroen Model C. Retrieved October 28, 2007.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Judt, J. 1966. Andre Citroen the story of a forgotten man. Worthing: Citroen Car Club.
- Reynolds, John. 2006. André Citroën engineer, explorer, entrepreneur. Sparkford: Haynes. ISBN 9781844253203
- Reynolds, John. 1996. André Citroën the Henry Ford of France. New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 9780312165055
- Wolgensinger, Jacques. 1991. André Citroën. [Paris]: Flammarion. ISBN 9782080664846
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