Jacques-Constantin Périer

[3][4] With his brother Auguste Charles, also a businessman, Périer was granted Royal letters patent to erect steam engines to pump water from the Seine and install a network of pipes for distributing it to customers, as was being done in London.

Despite obstacles to freighting orders to France given the war-time controls on trade and a growing shortage of shipping, as well as growing distrust of Périer by Watt and his partners, suppliers of iron pipes, brothers William and John Wilkinson, the Chaillot pumps "the Constantine" and "the Augustine" were in operation from 8 August 1781 and included components supplied by Boulton & Watt shipped on the brigantine Mary.

But I am the creator of this branch of industry in France.”[9] Fired from the company, the Périer brothers sued for the return of 300 shares and obtained financial compensation of 1,200,000 livres.

Difficulties in the execution of this judgment arose due to the French Revolution and they addressed a petition to the National Assembly, read in public session of November 24, 1790 and it was returned to committee.

[9] Jacques Constantin Périer is also associated with Nicolas Bettinger and with him invested in the Indret gun foundry, downstream from Nantes.