Photo: La Revue commerciale automobile, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons¹³

Jules-Albert de Dion

French automotive pioneer (1856–1946)

Marquis Jules Félix Philippe Albert de Dion de Wandonne (French pronunciation: [ʒyl feliks filip albɛʁ də djɔ̃ də wɑ̃dɔn]; 9 March 1856 – 19 August 1946) was a French pioneer of the automobile industry. He invented a steam-powered car and used it to win the world's first auto race, but his vehicle was adjudged to be against the rules.²

From Wikipedia’s article on Jules-Albert de Dion (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Mar 10, 1856, died Aug 19, 1946.¹

About

He was a co-founder of De Dion-Bouton, the world's largest automobile manufacturer for a time, as well as the French sports newspaper L'Équipe.

From Wikipedia’s article on Jules-Albert de Dion, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.²

Companies

De Dion–BoutonFounder¹²

Career

Occupation: automotive engineer, industrialist, entrepreneur, politician, racing automobile driver.⁶

1908 to 1909President, Q99527507⁵
1899 to 1934Conseiller général de la Loire-Atlantique⁵
1898 to 1905President, Aéro-Club de France⁵
Date not recordedFounded Paris Motor Show³
Date not recordedFounded De Dion–Bouton⁴
Date not recordedPresident, CCFA⁵
Date not recordedCo-founder, French Automobile Club⁵

Motor racing was started in France as a direct result of the enthusiasm with which the French public embraced the motor car. Manufacturers were enthusiastic due to the possibility of using motor racing as a shop window for their cars. The first motor race took place on 22 July 1894 and was organised by Le Petit Journal, a Parisian newspaper. It was run over the 122 kilometres (76 mi) distance between Paris and Rouen. The race was won by de Dion, although he was not awarded the prize for first place as his steam-powered car required a stoker and the judges deemed this outside of their requirements.

From Wikipedia’s article on Jules-Albert de Dion (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

BornMar 10, 1856, Nantes⁷
DiedAug 19, 1946, Paris⁸
CitizenshipFrance⁹
SpouseValentine Bouillant married 1908¹⁰

Awards

Date not recordedKnight of the Legion of Honour¹¹

Sources

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

1
WikidataJules-Albert de Dion on Wikidata
2
WikipediaJules-Albert de Dion on Wikipedia
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WikidataJules-Albert de Dion: Founded Paris Motor Show, on Wikidata
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WikidataJules-Albert de Dion: Founded De Dion–Bouton, on Wikidata
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WikidataJules-Albert de Dion: President, CCFA, on Wikidata
6
WikidataJules-Albert de Dion: occupation, on Wikidata
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WikidataJules-Albert de Dion: place of birth, on Wikidata
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WikidataJules-Albert de Dion: place of death, on Wikidata
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WikidataJules-Albert de Dion: citizenship, on Wikidata
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WikidataJules-Albert de Dion: spouse, on Wikidata
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WikidataJules-Albert de Dion: award, on Wikidata
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WikidataDe Dion–Bouton, Founder
13
Wikimedia CommonsJules-Albert de Dion photo by La Revue commerciale automobile, Public domain