Henri Rougier
| Henri Rougier | |
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Henri Rougier and the victorious 25Hp Turcat-Méry before the inaugural Monte Carlo rally
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| Born |
28 October 1876 Marseille, France |
| Died | July 1956 (aged 79) Marseille, France |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation | Motor dealer |
| Known for | Pioneering motorist and aviator. Winner of the inaugural Monte Carlo Rally. Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur Croix de guerre 'Medal of Aeronautics'. |
Henri Louis Rougier, (28 October 1876 – July 1956) was a French sportsman, racing cyclist, pioneer aeroplane pilot and sporting motorist. He is best remembered for his victory in the inaugural Monte Carlo Rally when he drove his Turcat-Méry from Paris to Monte Carlo, but he was also a regular competitor in both 'City to City' and Grand Prix races.
On 18 November 1909 he was awarded Aviator's Certificate number 11 by the Aéro-Club de France. Throughout 1909 and 1910 he was a very successful competitor at Air shows and Grands Prix throughout Europe.
Rougier was a successful entrepreneur, owning the Paris agency for Turcat-Méry motor cars, and using his motor racing and rallying prowess to garner publicity. After World War I he manufactured a limited number of Rougier motor cars, based on Turcat-Méry chassis but with mechanical design improvements and exclusive coach-built bodies.
Rougier was appointed Chevalier of the Légion d'honneur, plus being awarded the Croix de guerre and the 'Medal of Aeronautics'.
Rougier was born in Marseille, on 28 October 1876.
Henri Rougier was the main dealer for Turcat-Méry motor vehicles, and like most other manufacturers he used racing and competition as both a technical development and publicity aid for marketing.
In May 1903 Rougier finished 11th overall in the Paris-Madrid race driving a 45-hp Turcat-Méry. He was also classified 9th in the heavy car class.
On 17 June 1904 Rougier competed in the Gordon Bennett Cup race in Germany driving a 45-hp Turcat-Méry. Kaiser Wilhelm II had decreed that the race start from Bad Homburg in the Taunus mountains. He finished in third place, taking 6 hours 46 minutes 31 seconds to complete the 564 kilometres (350 mi).
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