During his 91 years of life, Eiffel helped create some of the most noteworthy landmarks of the 19th century, including the Statue of Liberty. He was even involved in the French effort to build the Panama Canal, though that project ultimately did not work out for him or his collaborators.
While Eiffel’s career wasn’t all smooth sailing, his lasting influence on the world of art, architecture, and engineering is undeniable.
Gustave Eiffel was born in Dijon, France on Dec. 15, 1832. In his youth, he was never the most disciplined student in school.
It was thanks to his history and literature teachers, and his uncle Jean-Baptiste Mollerat, that Eiffel began to take his education more seriously. He eventually earned his baccalauréat in humanities and science.