Andre Hillairet
Andre Hillairet *1857-1926)
1926 Obituary [1]
ANDRE HILLAIRET, head of the Hillairet works at Paris, was born on the 6th September, 1857, and died on the 23rd February, 1926.
He completed his education at the Lycee d'Angouleme and subsequently at the Lycee St. Louis, Paris.
From 1877 to 1880 he studied at the Ecole Centrale des Arts et Manufactures and obtained its engineering diploma. He at once turned his attention to the electrical industry, the future importance of which was evident from the Paris Exhibition of 1881.
In 1880 he became manager of the Breguet works, and in 1885 founded the Hillairet Huguet works, which soon became well known for their dynamos and motors, particularly in connection with electric capstans for hauling wagons on rails.
In 1884 he published an important book on the subject of electric transmission.
In 1890 he carried out at Domenes the first high-tension traction installation in France, and in 1894 improvised in a few days an electric traction installation at the Beraudiere mines.
He was on the governing body of the Ecole Centrale, a member of the Electricity Committee of the Ministry of Public Works, a member of the French Electrotechnical Committee, president of the Societe Francais des Electriciens in 1901, and president of the Societe des Ingenieurs Civils de France in 1906. In these societies he held a prominent position owing to his ability and his unfailing memory which enabled him to recall on any occasion stories and incidents forgotten by most of his colleagues. By his death electrical engineers in France have suffered a great loss.
He joined the Institution in 1897 as a Foreign Member, and became a Member in 1911.