Nationality French Occupation Industrialist | Organization Gardner-Serpollet Name Leon Serpollet | |
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Born 4 October 1858 ( 1858-10-04 ) Culoz, France Died 1 February 1907(1907-02-01) (aged 48)
Paris, France Monuments Statue by Jean Boucher
Parc Leon Serpollet Known for Steam automobile design
Steam tram design
Holding the World land speed record | ||
Léon Serpollet (4 October 1858 – 1 February 1907) was a French industrialist and pioneer of steam automobiles, under the Gardner-Serpollet brand. He also designed steam trams.
In 1896, he invented and perfected the flash boiler, which made steam a much more practical source of power for an automobile.
Serpollet was born in the Ain department of France, and went on to establish his factory on the rue des Cloÿs in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, a location that has become the Parc Léon Serpollet today.
He held the World land speed record, at 75.06 miles per hour (120.80 km/h), achieved in April 1902 driving the steam powered Gardner-Serpollet Oeuf de Pacques ('Easter Egg').
He is commemorated by a statue by Jean Boucher at the Place Saint-Ferdinand (48.877969°N 2.288112°E / 48.877969; 2.288112) in Paris' 17th arrondissement, and the Parc Léon Serpollet (48.89228°N 2.33831°E / 48.89228; 2.33831) in its 18th arrondissement.