Jules Garnier

Jules Garnier (November 25th 1839 with Saint-Etienne (Montaud) - March 8th 1904 with Gorbio), is a Engineer French.

A prestigious formation

He made his studies with the School of the mines of Saint-Etienne (1860), geologist and chemist, industrialist, Jules Garnier will also prove to be a historian and an ethnologist of talent.

Biography

At its exit of the School of Mines of Saint-Etienne, he works two years with the Steel-works of the Navy and the Railroads, then carries out a short geological investigation in Sardinia in 1862.

He is sent to Noumea as chief of the mines inspectorate of New Caledonia in 1863. Until 1866 it will traverse the island, and will discover there a new ore of Nickel: garnierite, named thus in its honor by its pars. This discovery and this paternity are officialized with the Academy of Science of Paris in 1876. It will also carry out missions with the Canada. Its work is largely recognized, and it receives, at the 28 years age, the Légion of honor.

In 1876, Jules Garnier deposits a patent for the exploitation industrialist of nickel calédonien and takes part in the creation of a company (the future Le Nickel Company - the SLN), while making build the first nickel factory with Point-Chaleix in Noumea. But especially, this same year, it deposits in February a new patent describing the principles and the contributions of ferronickel.

Meanwhile, it will take part in an active way, as commander of a battalion of volunteer, with the Franco-German Guerre of 1870 and will try to resist the Prussian invasion in the east of France. In the head of its men, minors and mining engineers, it takes an active part in the defense of France. It is one of the first commandos: various bridges, railways, works jump turn to all according to the orders. Jules Garnier take part in the defense of Autun and Dijon.

He will carry out some reflections on the urban transport in the capital, proposing the realization of an elevated railway. Lastly, it will carry out some searchs in the field at the same time explosives (tested during the conflict of 1871) and for a better use of the vapor.

Several voyage in North America and more precisely to Canada with his/her son Gilbert Garnier will enable him to be the proof of its patents and its processes. It is finally the world recognition when, about 1890 in Annapolis, the properties of ferronickel are recognized. Consequently the steel industry to nickel develops, the mining companies of Canada call upon Jules Garnier because of his fame. It takes part in the creation of whole factory successfully.

Lastly, associated with his son Pascal Garnier (prematurely deceased with old 26 years, in 1898) it will take again his remote forwardings.

Engineer-inventor of talent, Jules Garnier is also known for the importance and the diversity of his writings. Well beyond “the simple” publication of results of a search and/or various projects, Jules Garnier is a complete writer. He will publish a number very important of articles in the fields of sciences and technology, but also in reviews of geography.

Its bibliography (bibliography supplements) is impressive, with more than 30 references, of which its accounts of voyages, its book reference “Iron”, and several inventions in various fields. After 1870, he will become even secretary of the Société of Geography of Paris.

Jules Garnier dies in Gorbio (Alp-Maritime-France), on March 8th, 1904. He is buried with the cemetery of Crêt de Roch in Saint-Etienne (the Loire, France).

Today still, the presence of Jules Garnier is manifest, particularly in New Caledonia. Jules Garnier still remains for the New Caledonia, the character at the origin of industrial development.

External bonds

Foréziens in Calédonie
Site Jules Garnier

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