Lenoir, Jean Joseph Étienne, << luh NWAHR, zhahn zhoh ZEHF ay TYEHN >> (1822-1900), a Belgian-born French inventor, built the first practical internal-combustion engine in 1860. This single-cylinder engine resembled a steam engine, but used street-lighting gas for fuel and had a storage-battery ignition system. Lenoir’s engine started more quickly and easily than a steam engine and was more convenient to use. About 500 of the engines were sold. Lenoir used one of his one-horsepower engines to power a crude motor vehicle, and a two-horsepower engine to drive a boat. However, his engines used much fuel and lubricating oil, and the ignition system did not work well. The Lenoir engines soon became unpopular. But Lenoir’s work encouraged others to develop internal-combustion engines. Lenoir was born in Mussy-la-Ville, Belgium, on Jan. 12, 1822. He died in poverty in Varenne-St. Hilaire, France, on Aug. 4, 1900. See also Automobile (The gasoline car) ; Gasoline engine (Development of the gasoline engine) .
