Ernest Bradfer
{{Short description|French politician and iron master}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jean-Baptiste Christophe Ernest Bradfer
| image = Ernest Bradfer par CL Maréchal 0005.jpg
| caption = Ernest Bradfer {{circa|1880}} by Laurent-Charles Maréchal
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1833|03|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = Nantois, Meuse, France
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1882|06|09|1833|03|29|df=y}}
| death_place = Bar-le-Duc, Meuse, France
| nationality = French
| other_names =
| occupation = Iron master
| known_for =
}}
Jean-Baptiste Christophe Ernest Bradfer (29 March 1833 – 9 June 1882) was a French iron master and politician who was active in local politics in Bar-le-Duc, Meuse.
Life
Ernest Bradfer was born in Nantois on 29 March 1833.{{sfn|Légion d'Honneur: Bradfer}}
His father was Jean-Baptiste Bradfer (1808–88).{{sfn|Monument à Ernest Bradfer... Petit Partimoine}}
Ernest was educated in Nancy, Bar-le-Duc, Paris and then Strasbourg.{{sfn|Des Barisiens célèbres ... Bar le Duc}}
The Bradfers were both ironmasters and industrialists in Naix-aux-Forges and Bar-le-Duc.
In 1859 they partnered with the ironmaster Joseph-Bernard Viry and his son Louis to open a foundry and blast furnace in Bar-le-Duc.
In 1866 they bought out Viry and the Bradfer-Viry company became Bradfer père et fils (Bradfer Father & Son).
It produced iron piping for water and gas. Ernest then bought the mines in Maron, Meurthe-et-Moselle.
In 1876 they joined with Antoine Aubin Durenne, who owned the patent for the Lavril pipe connector, and founded "Bradfer et fils & Cie A.A. Durenne".{{sfn|Monument à Ernest Bradfer... Petit Partimoine}}
Ernest Bradfer was elected municipal councilor twice.
In 1879 he became mayor of Bar-le-Duc.{{sfn|Des Barisiens célèbres ... Bar le Duc}}
On 21 May 1880 he was named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.{{sfn|Légion d'Honneur: Bradfer}}
Ernest Bradfer died in Bar-le-Duc in 1882.{{sfn|Monument à Ernest Bradfer... Petit Partimoine}}
His parents followed his wish and built a school in 1885, mainly for the children of the employees in their factories.
In 1886 a statue of Bradfer by Onésyme-Aristide Croisy was erected, surrounded by four lions.{{sfn|Monument à Ernest Bradfer... Petit Partimoine}}
The statue and the magnificent lions, which are each different, are in the court of the school.{{sfn|Auzias|Labourdette|2015|p=383}}
A street was named after him.{{sfn|Des Barisiens célèbres ... Bar le Duc}}
Notes
{{notes}}{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Commons category|Ernest Bradfer}}
Sources
{{Refbegin}}
- {{cite book|last1=Auzias|first1=Dominique|last2=Labourdette|first2=Jean-Paul|title=Lorraine 2015 (avec cartes, photos + avis des lecteurs)
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JH_mCQAAQBAJ&pg=PT383|access-date=2015-10-26
|date=2015-06-16|publisher=Petit Futé|isbn=978-2-7469-9414-0}}
- {{cite web
|ref={{harvid|Des Barisiens célèbres ... Bar le Duc}}
|url=http://www.barleduc.fr/rubrique.aspx?CategoryID=101&Niveau=2
|title=Des Barisiens célèbres: Ernest BRADFER (1833-1882)
|publisher=Ville de Bar le Duc
|language=French
|access-date=2015-10-26
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414065905/http://www.barleduc.fr/rubrique.aspx?CategoryID=101&Niveau=2
|archive-date=2015-04-14
|df=
}}
- {{cite web|ref={{harvid|Légion d'Honneur: Bradfer}}|url=http://www.culture.gouv.fr/LH/LH027/PG/FRDAFAN83_OL0350004v001.htm
|title=Légion d'Honneur: Bradfer |date=1880-05-21 |publisher=Ministry of Culture|language=French|access-date=2015-10-26}}
- {{cite web|ref={{harvid|Monument à Ernest Bradfer... Petit Partimoine}}|url=http://www.petit-patrimoine.com/fiche-petit-patrimoine.php?id_pp=55029_40
|title=Monument à Ernest Bradfer à Bar-le-Duc|work=Petit Partimoine|access-date=2015-10-26|language=French}}
{{Refend}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bradfer, Ernest}}
Category:French industrialists