Jacques de Vaucanson

Jacques de Vaucanson (February 24,1709-November 21,1782) was a French engineer and inventor who is credited with creating the world's first true robots, as well as for creating the first completely automated loom.

Early life

He was born in Grenoble, France in 1709 as Jacques Vaucanson (the particle "de" was later added to his name by the Académie des Sciences http://www.chez.com/soie/vaucans.htm). The son of a glove-maker, he grew up poor, and in his youth he reportedly aspired to become a clockmaker http://perso.wanadoo.fr/moto.histo/Ev_G/vaucanson.htm. He studied under the Jesuits and later joined the Order of the Minims in Lyon. It was his intention at the time to follow a course of religious studies, but he regained his interest in mechanical devices after meeting the surgeon Le Cat, from whom he would learn the details of anatomy. This new knowledge allowed him to develop his first mechanical devices that mimicked biological vital functions such as circulation, respiration, and digestion http://www.automates.info/bibliotheque/articles/vaucanson.htm.

Related Topics:
Grenoble - France - 1709 - Académie des Sciences - Jesuits - Order of the Minims - Lyon

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