History · AGIR

Presidents of the Polytechnic Society Presidents of AGIR Notable personalities

The first attempts to organise technical and engineering associations in Romania date from the second half of the 19th century, when the “Society of Engineers and Architects” was founded (1876).

The first lasting professional association of engineers was the Polytechnic Society, established in 1881 in the presence of King Carol I, at the opening of the Buzău – Mărășești railway, the first railway in Romania designed and built by Romanian engineers.

The General Association of Engineers in Romania was founded in Iași in 1918, the year of the Great Union, with the aim of “organising and increasing the knowledge and working capacity of engineers (...), so as to bring the greatest benefit to the work of rebuilding the country (...), and of their solidarity and the defence of their professional interests”.

The two associations worked in parallel until 1949, when they merged under the name Scientific Association of Technicians. It was later known successively as the Scientific Association of Engineers and Technicians (1951–1962) and the National Council of Engineers and Technicians, until December 1989.

By court decision 4/P.J. of 1990, the General Association of Engineers in Romania returned to Romanian civil society as the legal successor of the engineering organisations that had existed in Romania until then.

Milestones

1876 · Society of Engineers and Architects

1881 · Polytechnic Society

1918 · AGIR founded in Iași

1949 · merger: Scientific Association of Technicians

1990 · AGIR re-established as legal successor

Presidents of the Polytechnic Society

Ștefan Fălcoianu

1881

Dimitrie Frunză

1882

Gheorghe Duca

1883

Ștefan Fălcoianu

1884

Constantin Olănescu

1885

Ion G. Cantacuzino

1886

Spiridon Yorceanu

1887

Ion G. Cantacuzino

1888–1889

Gheorghe I. Duca

1890

Scarlat Varnav

1891

Alexandru Gafencu

1892–1893

Anghel Saligny

1894–1896

Elie Radu

1897–1898

Pandele Tărușanu

1899

Alexandru Gafencu

1900–1901

Emil Balaban

1902

Elie Radu

1903–1904

Alexandru Cottescu

1905–1907

Ion G. Cantacuzino

1908–1909

Anghel Saligny

1910–1913

Grigore Cazimir

1914–1915

Teodor Dragu

1916–1919

Nicolae Ștefănescu

1920–1931

Ion Ionescu

1932–1934

Constantin Bușilă

1935–1944

Nicolae Profiri

1945–1946

Presidents of AGIR

Gheorghe Balș 1918–1922

engineer, graduate of the Zurich Polytechnic, member of the Historic Monuments Commission

Constantin Bușilă 1922–?

graduate of the National School of Bridges and Roads (SNSP) in Bucharest and of the Montefiore Electrotechnical Institute, professor at the Bucharest Polytechnic School

Grigore Stratilescu ?–1927

SNSP Bucharest graduate, chief inspector engineer, professor at the Bucharest Polytechnic School

Alexandru Davidescu 1927–1931

graduate of the School of Bridges and Roads in Paris, chief inspector, professor at the Bucharest Polytechnic School

Nicolae Vasilescu-Karpen 1931–1935

doctor of science, graduate of the École Supérieure d’Électricité in Paris, engineer, chief inspector, professor and rector of the Bucharest Polytechnic School

Mihail Manoilescu 1935–?

civil engineer, professor at the Bucharest Polytechnic School

Nicolae Profiri 1946–1949

civil engineer, graduate of the National School of Bridges and Roads and of the Charlottenburg Polytechnic, professor at the Bucharest Polytechnic Institute

Notable personalities in AGIR’s history

Spiru Haret

introduced mathematical methods into the study of social phenomena (Social Mechanics). The laws on compulsory primary education and on secondary, music and physical education were passed on his initiative. Vice-president of the Romanian Academy (1904–1907).

Ion I. C. Brătianu

played a major role in governing the country: he led the government for 12 years and dominated Romanian political life for 20 years. Member of the Romanian Academy.

Vintilă I. C. Brătianu

worked with Anghel Saligny on the Danube bridge at Fetești – Cernavodă (1891–1896). He initiated the doctrine and the movement through which Romania recovered economically by its own means, without foreign aid, after the First World War.

Constantin Robescu

founded the first scientific journal in Romania and campaigned for the protection of forests. As mayor of Bucharest he launched many urban-planning initiatives. Corresponding member of the Romanian Academy.

Dimitrie A. Sturdza

honorary president of the Polytechnic Society.

Traian Lalescu

helped found the Polytechnic School of Timișoara. A great mathematician, known throughout Europe and across the Atlantic.

Ion Băiulescu

worked on the first railway built entirely by Romanian engineers (Buzău – Mărășești). He was Anghel Saligny’s closest collaborator and friend, working alongside him on the Cernavodă bridge.

Grigore Cerchez

regulated the course of the Dâmbovița river and began the works on the capital’s sewerage system. He promoted the Romanian Revival architectural style.

Gheorghe Țițeica

founding member of the publications “Gazeta Matematică” and “Natura”. Vice-president and later secretary general of the Romanian Academy.

Mihail Roco

built the “Dr. Grigore Antipa” Natural History Museum in Bucharest. Founding member of “Gazeta Matematică” and author of its programme.

Nicolae Zane

vice-president of the Polytechnic Society, founder of the General Union of Romanian Industrialists.

Andrei Ioachimescu

founding member of “Gazeta Matematică”, member of the Polytechnic Society’s committee.