Ernest Bradfer

Ernest Bradfer was born in Nantois on 29 March 1833.[1] His father was Jean-Baptiste Bradfer (1808–88).[2] Ernest was educated in Nancy, Bar-le-Duc, Paris and then Strasbourg.[3] The Bradfers were both ironmasters and industrialists in Naix-aux-Forges and Bar-le-Duc. In 1859 they partnered with the ironmaster Joseph-Bernard Viry and his son Louis to open a foundry and blast furnace in Bar-le-Duc. In 1866 they bought out Viry and the Bradfer-Viry company became Bradfer père et fils (Bradfer Father & Son). It produced iron piping for water and gas. Ernest then bought the mines in Maron, Meurthe-et-Moselle. In 1876 they joined with Antoine Aubin Durenne, who owned the patent for the Lavril pipe connector, and founded "Bradfer et fils & Cie A.A. Durenne".[2]

Ernest Bradfer was elected municipal councilor twice. In 1879 he became mayor of Bar-le-Duc.[3] On 21 May 1880 he was named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour.[1] Ernest Bradfer died in Bar-le-Duc in 1882.[2] His parents followed his wish and built a school in 1885, mainly for the children of the employees in their factories. In 1886 a statue of Bradfer by Onésyme-Aristide Croisy was erected, surrounded by four lions.[2] The statue and the magnificent lions, which are each different, are in the court of the school.[4] A street was named after him.[3]