born Jan. 10, 1829, Nancy, France
died Feb. 7, 1917, Dijon
French engineer.
As an assistant to H.-P.-G. Darcy (1803–1858), he completed his program of tests on resistance to water flow in channels after Darcy's death, producing the classic study of the subject. He later studied the problem of wave propagation (see wave ) and the contraction of fluid flowing through an orifice. In 1854 he enlarged the Canal de Bourgogne and made it profitable for commercial navigation. In 1867 he suggested the use of pumps for dredging rivers, leading to the construction of the first suction dredgers.