SGANZIN

FRANCE (see also List of Individuals)

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1.10.1750 Metz/F - 10.1.1837 Bougival/F

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Large engineering works such as the pyramids of Egypt, the Suez Canal or the Eiffel tower always caused public admiration. One of the prominent designers of such large engineering works in the nineteenth century was Joseph-Mathieu Sganzin. He graduated from Ecole des Ponts et Chaussées in 1775 and started his career in Montauban. In 1785 he was appointed chief engineer, following the great works already realized by then. From 1788 Sganzin contributed to harbor works of Le Havre. In 1797, he was appointed director of maritime engineering service and professor of civil engineering at the young Ecole Polytechnique. In 1803 he was also appointed Inspecteur Général. During Napoleon's era, Sganzin traveled widely through Europe and was involved in the reconstruction of harbors in Anvers, Boulogne, and Genova. The port of Anvers was the First Consul's personal selection, given that it was out of the enemy's sight and close to the natural riches of the North. From the Peace of Westphalia, the Schelde River was closed to large ships. Sganzin redesigned the quays, the basins, the docks, the access, and the arsenal. Within a short time, Sganzin was able to transform Anvers into a main harbor of the French fleet, before he was ordered to move to Boulogne, where a similar undertaking was initiated.

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Sganzin is particularly known for bridges, and his various editions of the successful book on this topic. He may be considered the professional successor of Jean-Rodolphe Perronet (1708-1794). His works as a maritime engineer are considered worthwhile. He thus may be considered an early engineer who has significantly contributed to the advance of the engineering science in the early 19th century.

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_{Anonymous (1837). Notice sur la vie et les services de M. Sganzin, inspecteur général des ponts et chaussées et des travaux maritimes. Annales des Ponts et Chaussées 7(1): 395-404.}

_{Charliat, P.J. (1950). L'inspecteur général Sganzin et les travaux maritimes de l'époque napoléonienne. Revue Général de l'Hydraulique 58: 185-188. P}

_{Lorion, A. (1962). J.M. Sganzin au camp de Boulogne. Annales des Ponts et Chaussées}

_{132(7/8): 409-417.}

_{Picon, A. (1988). Architectes et ingénieurs au siècle des lumières. Paranthèses: Paris.}

_{Picon, A. (1989). L'ingénieur artiste. Dessins anciens de l'Ecole des Ponts et Chaussées.}

_{Presses de l'Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées: Paris.}

_{Sganzin, J.M. (1821). Programmes ou résumés d'un cours de construction avec applications tirées de l'art de l'ingénieur des Ponts et Chaussées. Courcier: Paris.}