born 1540, Grenoble, France
died 1576, Orléans
French engineer.
His improvements in the lathe were of great importance in the development of the Theatrum instrumentorum et machinarum (1569). Among many innovations, Besson introduced {{link=cam">cam s and templates (patterns used to guide the form of a piece being made) to the screw-cutting lathe, thus increasing the operator's control of tool and workpiece and permitting production of more accurate and intricate work in metal.