Jules Petiet was a French

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

 mechanical engineer who worked on the early development of the French railroad network. He was a designer of locomotives, as well as the chief executive of the Chemins de Fer du Nord railroad company. From 1868 until his death he was head of the engineering school École Centrale Paris

École Centrale Paris

École Centrale Paris is a French university-level institution in the field of engineering. It is also known by its original name École centrale des arts et manufactures, or ECP. Founded in 1829, it is one of the oldest and most prestigious engineering schools in France and has the special status...

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Petiet's name is one of the 72 names inscribed on the Eiffel tower

The 72 names on the Eiffel Tower

On the Eiffel Tower, seventy-two names of French scientists, engineers and some other notable people are engraved in recognition of their contributions. This is according to the design by Gustave Eiffel. The engravings are found on the sides of the tower under the first balcony...

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A street in Paris, rue Petiet, honours his name (Épinettes

Épinettes

Épinettes is a neighborhood of Paris, a part of the 17th arrondissement of the city. The neighborhood is bounded by the Avenue de Clichy, the Avenue de Saint-Ouen and the boundaries of Paris in the North.-History:...

, 17th district)