Joseph-Louis Lambot

Joseph-Louis Lambot (born May 22, 1814 in Montfort sur Argens died August 2, 1887 in Brignoles), is the inventor of ferro-cement, which led to the development of what is now known as reinforced concrete. He studied in Paris, where his uncle Baron Lambot was aide-de-camp to the Duke of Bourbon.

In 1841 he moved to his family's estate of Miraval in the Department of the Var (Southern France), where he applied himself to agriculture. It is at that time that he started constructing tanks using cement and iron reinforcement. In 1848 he constructed his first boat using the same system, which he tested on ponds on the estate. This boat was patented on January 30, 1855 and presented at the 1855 World's Fair in Paris (Exposition Universelle - 1855). The original prototype is preserved at the [http://www.museebrignolais.com/hom.htm Museum of Brignoles] .

References

* [http://www.equipement.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/barque_lambot_cle012731.pdf Comité d’Histoire de l’Equipement, des Transports et du Logement]
* [http://www.museebrignolais.com/hom.htm Museum of Brignoles]