The Technocrat — Jean-Antoine Chaptal

Jean-Antoine Chaptal, chemist and honorary Count of Chanteloup, occupied and defined the role of the technocrat at the beginning of the 19th century. Chaptal began his career as a successful industrial chemist in Montpelier, France. Leaders of the French Revolution convinced Chaptal to come to Paris to run the government’s gun powder factory. They were suspicious about Chaptal’s political leanings, but the revolutionaries were in a bind after having executed Lavoisier, the former superintendent of the powder works and the father of modern chemistry.

Chaptal survived the revolution and served as Minister of the Interior during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. In this role, Chaptal was responsible for overseeing improvements to hospitals, roads, bridges and canals, promoting the development of industry in France, at the beginning of the industrial revolution, and for establishing the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers to provide a technical education for workers in industry. Colbert and Haussmann played similar roles for Louis XIV and Louis Napoleon, respectively. When Napoleon Bonaparte asked what he could do to win the favor of residents of Paris, Chaptal replied “Bring them water.” This advice resulted in the construction of the Ourcq Canal and the basin at Villette, which contributed to the modernization of Paris and remains a popular destination for Parisians looking to spend a day on the water.

Jean-Antoine Chaptal is one of the 72 scientists and engineers named on the Eiffel Tower.