Pierre-Paul Riquet, Baron de Bonrepos (French pronunciation:[pjɛʁpɔlʁikɛ]; 29 June 1609 (some sources say 1604) – 4 October 1680) was the engineer and canal-builder responsible for the construction of the Canal du Midi.
Paul Riquet was born in Béziers, Hérault, France, the eldest son of solicitor, state prosecutor and businessman Guillaume Riquet.[1] As a youth, Riquet was only interested in mathematics and science. He married Catherine de Milhau at age 19.
As a fermier général ("farmer-general") of Languedoc-Roussillon, he was a tax farmer responsible for the collection and administration of the gabelle (salt tax) in Languedoc. He was appointed collector in 1630,[2] and was also a munitions provider to the Catalan Army.[1] Riquet became wealthy and was given permission by the King to levy his own taxes. This gave him greater wealth, which allowed him to execute grand projects with technical expertise.
Riquet is the man responsible for building the 240-kilometre-long artificial waterway that links the southern coast of France to Toulouse to link to the canal/river system that ran across to the Bay of Biscay, one of the great engineering feats of the 17th century. The logistics were immense and complex, so much so that other engineers including the ancient Romans had discussed the idea but not proceeded with it. Even so, Louis XIV was keen for the project to proceed, largely because of the increasing cost and danger of transporting cargo and trade around southern Spain where pirates were common.
Planning, financing, and construction of the Canal du Midi completely absorbed Riquet from 1665 forward. Numerous problems occurred, including navigating around many hills and providing a system that would feed the canal with water through the dry summer months. Advances in lock engineering and the creation of a 6 million cubic metre artificial lake, the Bassin de St. Ferréol which harvested water from streams on the Black Mountain near the Naurouze watershed,[1] provided solutions.
The high cost of construction depleted Riquet's personal fortune and the seemingly insurmountable problems caused his sponsors, including Louis XIV, to lose interest. Riquet's major engineering achievements included the Fonseranes Lock Staircase and the Malpas Tunnel, the world's first navigable canal tunnel. The canal was completed in 1681, eight months after Riquet's death.[2][3] He is buried in the Cathedral Saint-Etienne in Toulouse.
Referencesedit
^ abcGast, Rene (2006). The Canal du Midi Waterway: The story of a masterpiece. Editions Ouest-France. ISBN978-2-7373-3923-3.
pierre, paul, riquet, baron, bonrepos, french, pronunciation, pjɛʁ, pɔl, ʁikɛ, june, 1609, some, sources, 1604, october, 1680, engineer, canal, builder, responsible, construction, canal, midi, portrait, statue, toulouse, stele, toulouse, cathedral, contents, b. Pierre Paul Riquet Baron de Bonrepos French pronunciation pjɛʁ pɔl ʁikɛ 29 June 1609 some sources say 1604 4 October 1680 was the engineer and canal builder responsible for the construction of the Canal du Midi Portrait of Pierre Paul Riquet A statue of Pierre Paul Riquet in Toulouse Stele in Toulouse Cathedral Contents 1 Background 2 The Canal du Midi 3 References 4 External linksBackground editPaul Riquet was born in Beziers Herault France the eldest son of solicitor state prosecutor and businessman Guillaume Riquet 1 As a youth Riquet was only interested in mathematics and science He married Catherine de Milhau at age 19 As a fermier general farmer general of Languedoc Roussillon he was a tax farmer responsible for the collection and administration of the gabelle salt tax in Languedoc He was appointed collector in 1630 2 and was also a munitions provider to the Catalan Army 1 Riquet became wealthy and was given permission by the King to levy his own taxes This gave him greater wealth which allowed him to execute grand projects with technical expertise The Canal du Midi editMain article Canal du Midi Riquet is the man responsible for building the 240 kilometre long artificial waterway that links the southern coast of France to Toulouse to link to the canal river system that ran across to the Bay of Biscay one of the great engineering feats of the 17th century The logistics were immense and complex so much so that other engineers including the ancient Romans had discussed the idea but not proceeded with it Even so Louis XIV was keen for the project to proceed largely because of the increasing cost and danger of transporting cargo and trade around southern Spain where pirates were common Planning financing and construction of the Canal du Midi completely absorbed Riquet from 1665 forward Numerous problems occurred including navigating around many hills and providing a system that would feed the canal with water through the dry summer months Advances in lock engineering and the creation of a 6 million cubic metre artificial lake the Bassin de St Ferreol which harvested water from streams on the Black Mountain near the Naurouze watershed 1 provided solutions The high cost of construction depleted Riquet s personal fortune and the seemingly insurmountable problems caused his sponsors including Louis XIV to lose interest Riquet s major engineering achievements included the Fonseranes Lock Staircase and the Malpas Tunnel the world s first navigable canal tunnel The canal was completed in 1681 eight months after Riquet s death 2 3 He is buried in the Cathedral Saint Etienne in Toulouse References edit a b c Gast Rene 2006 The Canal du Midi Waterway The story of a masterpiece Editions Ouest France ISBN 978 2 7373 3923 3 a b McKnight Hugh 2005 Cruising French Waterways 4th Edition Sheridan House ISBN 978 1574092103 Mukerji Chandra 2009 Impossible Engineering Princeton University Press ISBN 978 0 691 14032 2 External links editBeziers birthplace of Riquet French nobility New creation Baron de Bonrepos1666 1680 Succeeded byPierre Paul II Riquet de Caraman Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pierre Paul Riquet amp oldid 1184259866, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
