Federico Lacroze
| Federico Lacroze | |
|---|---|
Portrait of Lacroze, late 1800s
|
|
| Born |
November 4, 1835 Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Died | February 16, 1899 (aged 63) Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Nationality |
 Argentine
|
| Occupation | Businessman, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Railway pioneer and founder of the Buenos Aires Central Railway |
Federico Lacroze (4 November 1835 – 16 February 1899) was an Argentine businessman and railway entrepreneur of French descent. He created the first tram line in Buenos Aires and his Buenos Aires Central Railway helped link the provinces of Entre Ríos, Corrientes and Misiones by rail to Argentina's capital. Lacroze is buried in La Recoleta Cemetery, Buenos Aires.
Federico Lacroze was the second of eight children born to Juan Lacroze, who had immigrated at a young age to Argentina. He began working from a young age at the Mallmann bank until he was 20 years of age when he moved to Chivilcoy, where he started a business with activities in agriculture.
His relationship with the railway industry began in 1866 when he proposed constructing a railway line between Luján and Salto. The proposal was turned down given budgetary constraints as a result of the war of the triple alliance.
By the 1870s, Lacroze (together with other Argentine businessmen) proposed the construction of a tram system in the city of Buenos Aires. After some debate in the Argentine National Congress, the proposal was approved and Lacroze began the construction of Buenos Aires' tramways together with his brother Julio.
The first segment was completed in 1871 and its route passed through approximately sixty blocks from the Plaza de Mayo to Plaza Miserere.
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