Photo: Jules Beau, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons¹⁶

Alexandre Darracq

French engineer and automobile manufacturer (1855–1931)

Alexandre Darracq (10 November 1855 – 1931) was a French investor, engineer, cycle manufacturer and automobile manufacturer. By 1904, Darracq was producing more than ten percent of all automobiles in France and he sold a substantial part of his business to British investors.²

From Wikipedia’s article on Alexandre Darracq (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Nov 10, 1855, died Nov 2, 1931.¹

About

He became fascinated by the possibilities of a rotary valve engine, put it into production and although it became a disaster for Darracq & Cie, persisted in installing it in Darracq products. He was obliged to retire in June 1912 aged 56. After the Armistice of Compiègne, his name was dropped from his Suresnes factory's mass-produced products.

In 1906 he founded Società Anonima Italiana Darracq (S.A.I.D.) in Milan, Italy, which became [Società] Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (A.L.F.A.) in 1910 and eventually Alfa Romeo.

From Wikipedia’s article on Alexandre Darracq, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.²

Companies

DarracqFounder¹³
Darracq Italiana vehiclesFounder¹⁴
Gladiator Cycle CompanyFounder¹⁵

Career

Occupation: engineer, entrepreneur.⁷

Date not recordedWorked at Alfa Romeo³
Date not recordedFounded Darracq⁴
Date not recordedFounded Gladiator Cycle Company⁵
Date not recordedFounded Darracq Italiana vehicles⁶

In mid-1912, Darracq resigned, having earlier sold out to British investors, and pursued other interests including running the Casino at Deauville. After World War I, he retired to the French Riviera where he joined with Belgian investors that took over the troubled luxury Hotel Negresco in Nice.

He died in 1931 at his home in Monte Carlo and was interred next to his wife Louise (1850–1920) in the family mausoleum in the Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris.

From Wikipedia’s article on Alexandre Darracq (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

BornNov 10, 1855, Bordeaux⁸
DiedNov 2, 1931, Monte Carlo⁹
CitizenshipFrance¹⁰
SpouseLouise Darracq¹¹

Awards

Date not recordedOfficer of the Legion of Honour¹²

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

1
WikidataAlexandre Darracq on Wikidata
2
WikipediaAlexandre Darracq on Wikipedia
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WikidataAlexandre Darracq: Worked at Alfa Romeo, on Wikidata
4
WikidataAlexandre Darracq: Founded Darracq, on Wikidata
5
WikidataAlexandre Darracq: Founded Gladiator Cycle Company, on Wikidata
6
WikidataAlexandre Darracq: Founded Darracq Italiana vehicles, on Wikidata
7
WikidataAlexandre Darracq: occupation, on Wikidata
8
WikidataAlexandre Darracq: place of birth, on Wikidata
9
WikidataAlexandre Darracq: place of death, on Wikidata
10
WikidataAlexandre Darracq: citizenship, on Wikidata
11
WikidataAlexandre Darracq: spouse, on Wikidata
12
WikidataAlexandre Darracq: award, on Wikidata
13
WikidataDarracq, Founder
14
WikidataDarracq Italiana vehicles, Founder
15
WikidataGladiator Cycle Company, Founder
16
Wikimedia CommonsAlexandre Darracq photo by Jules Beau, Public domain