Hubert Gautier

Henri Gautier (21 August 1660 – 27 September 1737) was a French engineer. He was born in Nîmes, France.

Gautier initially trained as a doctor, turning to mathematics and finally engineering. He served as an engineer for 28 years province of Languedoc.^[1] in 1713, he was appointed Inspecteur des ponts et chaussées and moved to Paris where he coontinued working until his retirement in 1731.

In 1716, he wrote the first book on building bridges, Traité des ponts.^[2]

The contractors do not hesitate to enrich themselves at the expense of the King or of those who work for them; & the engineers or inspectors of the works, on the contrary, have only in mind the honesty with which they act and to be highly esteemed; & they do not hesitate to regard the former as their enemies, when they are unfaithful.

—Hubert Gautier, Traite des Ponts (1716)

Gautier died in Paris, France.

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