It was at the Universal Exhibition of 1889, where he was showing a steam tricycle, that he discovered the Panhard & Levassor-Daimler internal combustion engine. He left the family cycle business in 1896 to found the Société anonyme des automobiles Peugeot: ninety-two cars in its first year, and one French car in two on the eve of 1914.
The story
Armand Peugeot, a graduate of the École centrale, made bicycles: at Valentigney, in the Doubs, he launched the Grand Bi with his cousin Eugène in 1882, then tricycles. Seven years later, at the Universal Exhibition of 1889, he showed a steam tricycle and discovered there the Panhard & Levassor petrol engine, built under Daimler licence: the meeting that decided everything.
In 1896 he left the family firm and founded the Société anonyme des automobiles Peugeot. The Audincourt works started from a few dozen cars a year; on the eve of 1914, one French motor car in two was a Peugeot. Awarded the Légion d'honneur in 1904, he died in 1915.
His grave in Division 95 carries six inscriptions, from himself (1849-1915) to Charles Émile Breitling (1914-1990): the name Peugeot comes back on it generation after generation, without a single line saying the motor car.
The grave
A family grave of six inscriptions, opened by that of the founder: “Armand PEUGEOT, industriel, officier de la Légion d'Honneur, 1849-1915.” — industrialist, Officer of the Legion of Honour. The word “automobile” does not appear. There follow Charlotte France Brellin (1876-1916), a child who died at three — Anne Kreiss (1918-1921) —, his wife Léonie Peugeot née Fallot (1852-1932), Mrs Charles Breitling née Madeleine Peugeot (1887-1952) and Charles Émile Breitling (1914-1990). A hundred and forty years of family on a single stone.
On site, do not miss
The inscription calls him “industriel, officier de la Légion d'Honneur” — industrialist, Officer of the Legion of Honour — not car manufacturer. Five names of the family follow his, down to Charles Émile Breitling, who died in 1990: a hundred and forty years on one stone.
Visitors' questions
Where is Armand Peugeot's grave?
In Division 95, Avenue Transversale No. 3, eleventh row. The stone calls him “industriel, officier de la Légion d'Honneur” — industrialist, officer of the Legion of Honour — and comes before five more family names, down to a Breitling who died in 1990.
Georges MoustakiHow did he come to the motor car?
Through the bicycle, then steam: with his cousin Eugène he built the Grand Bi, the penny-farthing, in 1882, and showed a steam tricycle in 1889 — where he met the Panhard & Levassor-Daimler petrol engine, which settled everything.
René PanhardWhen did he found his own company?
In 1896, after leaving the family firm: the Société anonyme des automobiles Peugeot. It turned out ninety-two cars in its first year, and one French car in two on the eve of 1914. He was a graduate of the École centrale.
Ettore BugattiWho lies with him?
Five other members of the family, across almost a century: his wife Léonie, née Fallot (1852-1932), Charlotte France Brellin, a child who died at three in 1921, Madeleine Peugeot, who became Mrs Breitling, and Charles Émile Breitling, who died in 1990.
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