COLSON

FRANCE (see also List of Individuals)

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13.11.1853 Versailles/F - 24.3.1939 Paris/F

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Clément Colson graduated from Ecole des Ponts et Chaussées ENPC in 1879 as a civil engineer, and then entered the Corps of Bridges and Roads to collaborate with Alfred Picard (1844-1913). Colson specialized in railroad design first and was one of its directors in 1894 and 1895. Then he sought a more general position by adding to national committees in the public works department. After retirement, he took over in 1924 presidency of the National Commission on maritime harbors, which was founded by Henry Watier (1882-1937). Colson as a general engineer was a master in these branches of design, construction and management of large engineering structures.

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Colson thus cannot be considered a real researcher in hydraulics but an outstanding engineer of high ethical, technical and economical standards who had considerably contributed to his country in the Public Works department. Next to railroads, his works in canals and in maritime transportation are well known. It was in this position where his interest for political economics initiated. Like his predecessor Jules Dupuit (1804-1866), a founder of that branch in economics, questions of his daily profession required the study not only of the technical but also of the financial and economical aspects of a complete civil engineering project. Colson thus lectured political economics at both Ecole Polytechnique and ENPC. From 1920 to 1923 Colson presided over the Association des Anciens Elèves de l'Ecole des Ponts et Chaussées. He was awarded the Grand Cross of Légion d'Honneur.

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_{Anonymous (1951). Notice sur la vie et les travaux de Clément Colson. Académie des Sciences Morales et Politiques. Institut de France: Paris.}

_{Colson, C. (1888). Garantie d'intérêts et son application en France à l'exécution des travaux publics. Annales des Ponts et Chaussées 58(2): 601-779.}

_{Colson, C. (1888). Organisation financière des ports maritimes de commerce en Angleterre. Annales des Ponts et Chaussées 58(1): 61-284.}

_{Colson, C. (1894). Notes on docks and dock construction. Longmans: London.}

_{Colson, C. (1931). Voies ferrées - Progrès réalisés depuis cent ans dans les travaux publics. Annales des Ponts et Chaussées 101: 141-166.}

_{Divisa, F. (1939). Clément Colson, Inspecteur Général des Ponts et Chaussées. Bulletin de l'Association des Ingénieurs des Ponts et Chaussées PCM 36(3): 12-13. P}

_{Marlio, M. (1939). Clément Colson. Annales des Ponts et Chaussées 109(2): 149-168. P}