# André Citroën

> French businessman (1878-1935)

**Wikidata**: [Q219842](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219842)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/André_Citroën)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/andre-citroen

## Summary
André Citroën was a French businessman, industrialist, and engineer who founded the Citroën automotive manufacturer in 1919. Serving as a central figure in the early 20th-century industrial landscape, he operated within the automotive industry and was associated with World War I. His legacy endures through the continued success of his company and the Parisian landmarks named in his honor, including the quai André-Citroën and Parc André Citroën.

## Biography
- **Born:** February 5, 1878
- **Nationality:** French
- **Education:** Lycée Condorcet, Lycée Louis-le-Grand, École polytechnique
- **Known for:** Founding the Citroën automotive manufacturer
- **Employer(s):** Citroën (Founder)
- **Field(s):** Automotive industry, engineering, business
- **Awards:** Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour

## Contributions
André Citroën's primary contribution was the establishment of the Citroën company, a French automotive manufacturer founded on June 4, 1919. Headquartered in France, the company became a significant entity within the automotive industry, a sector encompassing organizations associated with motor vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles. His work as an entrepreneur involved organizing, managing, and assuming the risks of this business enterprise, which grew to employ approximately 140,000 people. Additionally, his professional life intersected with World War I, where he was associated with the global conflict that originated in Europe (1914–1918).

## FAQs
**What was André Citroën's educational background?**
André Citroën was educated at several prestigious institutions in France, including the Lycée Condorcet and Lycée Louis-le-Grand, both public schools in Paris. He also attended the École polytechnique, a French engineering grande école (selective higher education institution) established in 1794.

**What is André Citroën best known for?**
He is best known as the founder of Citroën, a major French automotive manufacturer established in 1919. The company operates within the automotive industry and is headquartered in France.

**Did André Citroën receive any awards?**
Yes, he was recognized as a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour, which is the fourth rank of the French Legion of Honour.

**What places are named after André Citroën?**
There are notable landmarks in Paris named after him, including the quai André-Citroën, a thoroughfare in Paris, and the Parc André Citroën, an urban park in Paris that was established in 1992.

**What were André Citroën's primary professions?**
Citroën was an entrepreneur, defined as a person who owns and operates a business, and an industrialist, serving as the owner or operator of a factory or manufacturing business. He was also a professional practitioner of engineering.

## Why They Matter
André Citroën matters because he played a pivotal role in the industrialization of France and the development of the global automotive sector. By founding Citroën, he created an enterprise that became a lasting fixture in the automotive industry, contributing to the economic and manufacturing landscape of France. His work as an entrepreneur—characterized by the organization and management of a business enterprise with the assumption of risk—exemplifies the drivers of commerce and economic activity. His influence is such that significant geographical sites in Paris, including a public park and a thoroughfare, bear his name, cementing his status as a notable figure in French history.

## Notable For
- **Founding Citroën:** Established the French automotive manufacturer on June 4, 1919.
- **Military Association:** Linked to World War I (1914–1918).
- **Educational Attainment:** Attended the École polytechnique, a prominent engineering school.
- **National Recognition:** Recipient of the Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour.
- **Geographic Legacy:** The quai André-Citroën and Parc André Citroën in Paris are named after him.
- **Professional Roles:** Recognized as an entrepreneur, industrialist, and engineer.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
André Citroën was born on February 5, 1878, in France. He pursued his education at some of the country's most notable institutions. He attended the Lycée Condorcet, a public school in Paris with inception dates tracing back to 1803 and 1965. He also studied at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand, another public school in Paris established in 1563, with later significant dates in 1873 and 1965. His higher education took place at the École polytechnique, a French engineering grande école (selective higher education institution) founded on September 28, 1794. This institution is headquartered in Palaiseau and Paris and operates within the higher education industry.

### Career and Industrial Leadership
Citroën's career was defined by his roles as an entrepreneur, industrialist, and engineer. As an entrepreneur, he belonged to a class of persons who own and operate businesses, organizing, managing, and assuming the risks of profit or loss for a business enterprise. This role distinguished him as a legal person and economic entity operating within the fields of commerce and economic activity. As an industrialist, he functioned as the owner or operator of a factory or manufacturing business. His professional work was centered in the automotive industry, a range of organizations associated with motor vehicles such as automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles, which has its inception traced to 1893.

### Founding of Citroën
On June 4, 1919, André Citroën founded the company that bears his name, Citroën. This French automotive manufacturer is headquartered in France and operates within the automotive industry and the manufacturing industry. The company grew to become a significant employer, with a workforce reaching approximately 140,000 employees. Under his leadership, the firm established itself as a key player in the market for motor vehicles.

### Military Involvement
Citroën's professional timeline intersected with major global conflicts. He is recorded as being associated with World War I, a global war originating in Europe that lasted from 1914 to 1918. This conflict involved numerous nations and had a profound impact on the industrial and economic landscape of the time, areas in which Citroën was actively engaged.

### Awards and Honours
In recognition of his contributions to industry and society, André Citroën was awarded the title of Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour. This award represents the fourth rank of the French Legion of Honour, a distinction of high merit within the French Republic.

### Legacy and Geography
The legacy of André Citroën is preserved in the geography of Paris, France. The quai André-Citroën, a thoroughfare located in Paris, serves as a physical reminder of his name. Additionally, the Parc André Citroën, an urban park in Paris established in 1992, further commemorates his life and work. These sites are located within France, a country in Western Europe known for its significant global cultural, political, and economic influence.

### Death
André Citroën died on July 3, 1935. His life spanned a period of significant industrial growth and geopolitical change in France and the world.

## References

1. general catalog of BnF
2. BnF authorities
3. [Source](https://bibli-aleph.polytechnique.fr/F/5A8V42GYNUHSQFHM82J635Q8R9V4AE3Q46995NEXDE1EEGQ89Q-13233?func=full-set-set&set_number=004401&set_entry=000003&format=999)
4. Léonore database
5. International Standard Name Identifier
6. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
7. Catalogue of the Library of the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross
8. Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana
9. GeneaStar
10. Roglo
11. [Source](http://purl.org/pressemappe20/beaconlist/pe)
12. Sejm-Wielki.pl