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04/08/1900 Belgian engineer Étienne Lenoir dies

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Secret Life Of Machines - Internal Combustion Engine (Full Length)

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1860 Lenoir engine at Nuenen

He invented the first commercially successful internal-combustion engine. The engine looked like a double-acting steam engine. It fired an uncompressed charge of air and gas with an ignition system of Lenoir’s own design. One of his engines powered a road vehicle. Another ran a boat. It wasn't efficient enough, and the inventor died poor.