Pierre Lefaucheux
Encyclopedia
Pierre Lefaucheux was a leading French industrialist and a Compagnon de la Libération
.
, and descended from the French inventor Casimir Lefaucheux, Pierre was second of the four children of Pierre André Lefaucheux and Madeleine Dulac.
He volunteered for military service in September 1917, his record of military achievement in the First World War being crowned with his receipt of the croix de guerre
.
Returning to civilian life he enrolled at the école centrale des arts et manufactures, obtaining his diploma in 1922.
Lefacheux began his working life with a brief spell at the North France Railway Company
, before joining in 1925 the Compagnie générale de construction de fours (General Boiler Manufacturing Company) where he would build his career until 1939, and where he became a director.
In parallel, he began in 1929 a doctoral thesis which he would submit in 1935 on the subject of “The peseta
and the Spanish economy”.
ammunition factory in January 1940.
His distinguished Resistance
career was truncated when he was captured and imprisoned at Buchenwald
automobile business Lefaucheux took charge of the company in 1945. Lefaucheux had no great passion for cars, and even after being appointed to the top job at Renault he continued, for some time, to travel to work using his preferred form of locomotion, a pedal cycle. Lefacheaux set a pattern whereby Renault, despite now being a nationalised industry, ferociously rejected management by politicians: in this he was naturally able to draw on the network of influential former resistance leaders and fighters, many now in positions of power within the Fourth Republic
French state. This was important at a time when France was ruled by a strongly dirigiste government, capable of implenting the Pons Plan which reflected government determination to structure the French auto-industry according to priorities identified by politicians and civil servants. Lefaucheux's stewardship saw Renault becoming France's leading automobile manufacturer, with Lefaucheux directing the development of the commercially successful Renault 4CV
— and up until the time of his death, its successor, the Renault Dauphine
.
. Approaching Saint-Dizier
he was surprised by a sign for a temporary diversion, and though he could have driven straight ahead, at the last moment he tried to follow the diversion. He braked, but the road surface was coated by black ice. The Frégate spun and rolled over, ending up on its side in a field. Though the Frégate's passenger cell was almost undamaged, Lafaucheux's unsecured suitcase on the rear seat had struck him in the neck: Lefaucheux died on the spot. He carried in his pocket a train ticket for the trip.
By then Lefaucheux had overseen most of the development of the Renault Dauphine
, which would be presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1956. He was succeeded at Renault by the company's vice-president, Pierre Dreyfus
, by back-ground a high-flying civil servant. He is buried at Saint-Quentin-des-Prés
.
Ordre de la Libération
The Ordre de la Libération is a French Order awarded to heroes of the Liberation of France during World War II. It is an exceptional honor, the second highest after the Légion d’Honneur and only a small number of people and military units have received it, exclusively for deeds accomplished...
.
Early years
Born at Triel-sur-SeineTriel-sur-Seine
Triel-sur-Seine is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is positioned approximately to the north-west of Saint-Germain-en-Laye.Inhabitants are known as Triellois or Trielloises according to gender....
, and descended from the French inventor Casimir Lefaucheux, Pierre was second of the four children of Pierre André Lefaucheux and Madeleine Dulac.
He volunteered for military service in September 1917, his record of military achievement in the First World War being crowned with his receipt of the croix de guerre
Croix de guerre 1914-1918 (France)
The Croix de guerre 1914–1918 is a French military decoration.-Creation:Soon after the outbreak of World War I, French military officials felt that a new military award had to be created...
.
Returning to civilian life he enrolled at the école centrale des arts et manufactures, obtaining his diploma in 1922.
Lefacheux began his working life with a brief spell at the North France Railway Company
Chemin de Fer du Nord
Chemin de Fer du Nord , often referred to simply as the Nord company, was a rail transport company created in September 1845, in Paris, France. It was owned by among others de Rothschild Frères of France, N M Rothschild & Sons of London, England, Hottinger, Laffitte and Blount...
, before joining in 1925 the Compagnie générale de construction de fours (General Boiler Manufacturing Company) where he would build his career until 1939, and where he became a director.
In parallel, he began in 1929 a doctoral thesis which he would submit in 1935 on the subject of “The peseta
Spanish peseta
The peseta was the currency of Spain between 1869 and 2002. Along with the French franc, it was also a de facto currency used in Andorra .- Etymology :...
and the Spanish economy”.
Resistance
War would again transform Lefaucheux's life. Called up in 1939, he was appointed Director for the Le MansLe Mans
Le Mans is a city in France, located on the Sarthe River. Traditionally the capital of the province of Maine, it is now the capital of the Sarthe department and the seat of the Roman Catholic diocese of Le Mans. Le Mans is a part of the Pays de la Loire region.Its inhabitants are called Manceaux...
ammunition factory in January 1940.
His distinguished Resistance
French Resistance
The French Resistance is the name used to denote the collection of French resistance movements that fought against the Nazi German occupation of France and against the collaborationist Vichy régime during World War II...
career was truncated when he was captured and imprisoned at Buchenwald
Buchenwald concentration camp
Buchenwald concentration camp was a German Nazi concentration camp established on the Ettersberg near Weimar, Germany, in July 1937, one of the first and the largest of the concentration camps on German soil.Camp prisoners from all over Europe and Russia—Jews, non-Jewish Poles and Slovenes,...
Renault
After the nationalisation of the RenaultRenault
Renault S.A. is a French automaker producing cars, vans, and in the past, autorail vehicles, trucks, tractors, vans and also buses/coaches. Its alliance with Nissan makes it the world's third largest automaker...
automobile business Lefaucheux took charge of the company in 1945. Lefaucheux had no great passion for cars, and even after being appointed to the top job at Renault he continued, for some time, to travel to work using his preferred form of locomotion, a pedal cycle. Lefacheaux set a pattern whereby Renault, despite now being a nationalised industry, ferociously rejected management by politicians: in this he was naturally able to draw on the network of influential former resistance leaders and fighters, many now in positions of power within the Fourth Republic
Fourth Republic
Fourth Republic may refer to:* French Fourth Republic * Fourth Republic of the Philippines * Fourth Republic of South Korea * The Fourth Republic of Niger...
French state. This was important at a time when France was ruled by a strongly dirigiste government, capable of implenting the Pons Plan which reflected government determination to structure the French auto-industry according to priorities identified by politicians and civil servants. Lefaucheux's stewardship saw Renault becoming France's leading automobile manufacturer, with Lefaucheux directing the development of the commercially successful Renault 4CV
Renault 4CV
The Renault 4CV was an economy car produced by the French manufacturer Renault from August 1947-July 1961. The first French car to sell over a million units, the 4CV was ultimately superseded by the Renault Dauphine....
— and up until the time of his death, its successor, the Renault Dauphine
Renault Dauphine
Renault Dauphine is a rear-engined economy car manufactured by Renault in one body style — a three-box, four-door sedan — as the successor to the Renault 4CV, with over two million examples marketed worldwide during its production from 1956-1967....
.
Death
On Friday, 11 February 1955, Lefaucheux was scheduled to give a presentation in Strasbourg. The weather was bad, with ice forecast. Lefaucheux decided at the last minute to travel by car, placing his suitcase not in the trunk, but on the rear seat of his Renault FrégateRenault Frégate
The Renault Frégate is a full-size or executive car produced by the French automaker Renault between 1951 and 1960.-Origins:The Frégate was conceived in the years immediately following World War II...
. Approaching Saint-Dizier
Saint-Dizier
Saint-Dizier is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France.It has a population of 31,000 and is a subprefecture of the department...
he was surprised by a sign for a temporary diversion, and though he could have driven straight ahead, at the last moment he tried to follow the diversion. He braked, but the road surface was coated by black ice. The Frégate spun and rolled over, ending up on its side in a field. Though the Frégate's passenger cell was almost undamaged, Lafaucheux's unsecured suitcase on the rear seat had struck him in the neck: Lefaucheux died on the spot. He carried in his pocket a train ticket for the trip.
By then Lefaucheux had overseen most of the development of the Renault Dauphine
Renault Dauphine
Renault Dauphine is a rear-engined economy car manufactured by Renault in one body style — a three-box, four-door sedan — as the successor to the Renault 4CV, with over two million examples marketed worldwide during its production from 1956-1967....
, which would be presented at the Geneva Motor Show in March 1956. He was succeeded at Renault by the company's vice-president, Pierre Dreyfus
Pierre Dreyfus
Pierre Dreyfus was a high flying French civil servant who in 1955 became a top businessman....
, by back-ground a high-flying civil servant. He is buried at Saint-Quentin-des-Prés
Saint-Quentin-des-Prés
Saint-Quentin-des-Prés is a small village in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.-References:*...
.
External links
- Pierre Lefaucheux, compagnon de la Libération
- The entry incorporates text translated from the corresponding French wikipedia entry as at 2008-10-24.