February 5, 1878 – Founder of Citroën is born

The youngest of five children, André-Gustave Citroën was born in Paris on this day in 1878. 

André-Gustave Citroën,Photo:Getty images

He developed a passion for engineering as he watched the construction of the Eiffel Tower, leading him to study at École Polytechnique in Palaiseau, France. 

During a visit to Warsaw in 1900, he witnessed a carpenter building a new type of gear system, later buying its patent to further developed it. This lead to the invention of double helical gears, commonly used in rear axles, transaxles, camshaft timing gears and other application

First mass produced Citroen, a 10 hp Type A,Photo:Getty images

In 1906, Citroën became director of Mors automobiles, launching a fruitful automotive career. His success in the industry led him to found Citroën automobile company in 1919. Citroën would become the fourth largest automobile manufacturer in the world by 1932. Following overspending during development of the Traction Avant model, the company declared bankruptcy, but in 1934, in the afternmath of the situation, Michelin tire company took over Citroën.

Photo: Getty images, 1951 Modèle 15 SIX D Traction Avant. The Traction Avant, manufactured from 1934 to 1957, sent Citroën into bankruptcy, but would prove to be a successful car.

The very next year, André-Gustave Citroën succumbed to stomach cancer.(automotivehistory)