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for printing| Gaspard de Prony's family name was Riche, the de
Prony title having been bought by his parents. In fact de
Prony's younger brother was always known by the name Riche. De
Prony was educated at the Benedictine College at Toissei in
Doubs. From there he entered the École des Ponts et Chaussés in
1776 where he studied engineering. He graduated in 1779 as the
top student and remained for a further year in Paris, doing as
the head of the École des Ponts et Chaussés told him:- M de
Prony ... concern yourself with acquiring a deep knowledge of
your art, for you are destined to become head of the École des
Ponts et Chaussés. In 1780 he became an engineer with the École
des Ponts et Chaussés and after three years in a number of
different regions of France he returned to the École des Ponts
et Chaussés in Paris 1783. This was the same year he published
his first major