# Alexandre Darracq > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alexandre_Darracq > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alexandre_Darracq.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandre_Darracq > Source revision: 1319124792 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|French engineer and automobile manufacturer (1855–1931)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}} thumb|Darracq 6,5 CV (1901) [[Image:Gladiator Double Phaeton 1907.JPG|thumb|200px|Gladiator Double Phaeton from 1907, 2 cylinder, 2423 cc, 12 PS, 45 km/h, [Cité de l’Automobile – Musée National – Collection Schlumpf](/source/Cit%C3%A9_de_l%E2%80%99Automobile_%E2%80%93_Mus%C3%A9e_National_%E2%80%93_Collection_Schlumpf), [Mulhouse](/source/Mulhouse), France]] [[Image:Darracq Coupe Chaffeur.JPG|thumb|200px|Darracq Coupé Chauffeur SS 20/28, 1907, 4 cylinder, 28,5 [PS](/source/Pferdest%C3%A4rke), 4728 cc, 70 km/h, [Cité de l’Automobile – Musée National – Collection Schlumpf](/source/Cit%C3%A9_de_l%E2%80%99Automobile_%E2%80%93_Mus%C3%A9e_National_%E2%80%93_Collection_Schlumpf), [Mulhouse](/source/Mulhouse), France]] '''Alexandre Darracq'''{{efn|{{IPA|fr|alɛksɑ̃dʁ daʁak}}}} (10 November 1855 – 1931) was a [French](/source/French_people) investor, engineer, cycle manufacturer and automobile manufacturer. By 1904, Darracq was producing more than ten percent of all automobiles in France and he sold a substantial part of his business to British investors. He became fascinated by the possibilities of a rotary valve engine, put it into production and although it became a disaster for Darracq & Cie, persisted in installing it in Darracq products. He was obliged to retire in June 1912 aged 56. After the [Armistice of Compiègne](/source/Armistice_of_11_November_1918), his name was dropped from his Suresnes factory's mass-produced products. In 1906 he founded Società Anonima Italiana Darracq (S.A.I.D.) in Milan, Italy, which became [Società] Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili (A.L.F.A.) in 1910 and eventually [Alfa Romeo](/source/Alfa_Romeo). ==Sewing machines and cycles== Born '''Pierre Alexandre Darracq''' in [Bordeaux](/source/Bordeaux), France, of [Basque](/source/Basque_people) parents, he trained as a draftsman at the Arsenal in [Tarbes](/source/Tarbes), in the [Hautes-Pyrénées](/source/Hautes-Pyr%C3%A9n%C3%A9es) département. He later worked at the [Hurtu](/source/Hurtu) factory manufacturing sewing machines. Darracq designed a machine that won a gold medal at the [1889 Paris exhibition](/source/1889_Paris_exhibition).{{Cite encyclopedia| author= Wise, David Burgess| title = A Motor Enthusiast Who Hated Driving | encyclopedia = The World of Automobiles | volume = 5 | pages = 493–494 | publisher = [Orbis Publishing](/source/Orbis_Publishing) | year = 1974}} He established the [Gladiator Cycle Company](/source/Gladiator_Cycle_Company) in 1891. He sold his very successful company in 1896 for a substantial amount and for a short time went into the business of manufacturing electric cars as well as acquiring an interest in [rotary engine](/source/rotary_engine)d [Millet motorcycle](/source/Millet_motorcycle)s. ==Automobiles== He established [Automobiles Darracq France](/source/Automobiles_Darracq_France) in [Suresnes](/source/Suresnes), near [Paris](/source/Paris) where he pioneered the making of the chassis from pressed steel and the use of production machinery in place of hand labor. Despite his establishing an automobile business, and having taken driving lessons in July 1896, Darracq did not like driving cars or even being driven in them. For him, it was just pursuing his interest in manufacturing and making money. By 1904, Darracq was producing more than ten percent of all automobiles in France.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}} His company became involved with [motor racing](/source/motor_racing), winning a number of major races, including the 1905 and 1906 [Vanderbilt Cup](/source/Vanderbilt_Cup) in the United States and twice setting a new [land speed record](/source/land_speed_record) in 1904 and 1905. Racing success raised the image of the Darracq marque so he was able to expand to England and form licensing partnerships. ==London== In 1904 he sold his business to British investors who incorporated [A Darracq and Co](/source/Darracq_and_Company_London) in which he held a substantial shareholding and was a director. He remained manager of the enterprise. The following year A Darracq and Company was listed on the London Stock Exchange but reformed for the purpose as A. Darracq and Company (1905) Limited. Thereafter financial control remained in London. ==Italy and Germany== The company that became [Alfa Romeo](/source/Alfa_Romeo) was founded by Darracq as Società Anonima Italiana Darracq (S.A.I.D.) in 1906. It became '''A.L.F.A'''. ("'''[Società] Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili'''", "Lombard Automobile Factory Company") on 24 June 1910, in [Milan](/source/Milan).{{cite web|url=http://www.autoweb.com.au/cms/A_52638/title_Alfa-Romeo-Celebrates-90-Years-Of-Success/newsarticle.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511014728/http://www.autoweb.com.au/cms/A_52638/title_Alfa-Romeo-Celebrates-90-Years-Of-Success/newsarticle.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-05-11|title=Alfa Romeo Celebrates 90 Years of Success|accessdate=2009-01-09|year=2000|work=autoweb.com}} Darracq raised substantial capital through share issues with Cavaliere Ugo Stella, managing director of S.A.I.D and subsequently A.L.F.A., with [Adam Opel](/source/Opel) in Germany and in [Vitoria](/source/Vitoria%2C_Spain) in the Basque region of Spain.[https://www.museoalfaromeo.com/en-us/storia/Pages/origini.aspx Museo Alfa Romeo, History] thumb|Darracq rotary-valve engine After personally insisting the new 1911 model employ the [Henriod](/source/Henriod) [rotary valve](/source/rotary_valve) engine, Alexadre Darracq resigned. ==Later life and death== In mid-1912, Darracq resigned, having earlier sold out to British investors, and pursued other interests including running the Casino at [Deauville](/source/Deauville). After World War I, he retired to the [French Riviera](/source/French_Riviera) where he joined with [Belgian](/source/Belgium) investors that took over the troubled luxury [Hotel Negresco](/source/Hotel_Negresco) in [Nice](/source/Nice). He died in 1931 at his home in [Monte Carlo](/source/Monte_Carlo) and was interred next to his wife Louise (1850–1920) in the family mausoleum in the [Père Lachaise Cemetery](/source/P%C3%A8re_Lachaise_Cemetery) in Paris. {{clear}} ==Notes== {{notelist}} ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Darracq, Alexandre}} Category:1855 births Category:1931 deaths Category:Alfa Romeo people Category:Businesspeople from Bordeaux Category:French founders of motor vehicle manufacturers Category:French-Basque people Category:French automotive pioneers Category:Burials at Père Lachaise Cemetery --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alexandre Darracq](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandre_Darracq) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandre_Darracq?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.