Benoit Fourneyron
Benoît Fourneyron (October 31, 1802 – July 31, 1867) was a French engineer, born in Saint-Étienne, Loire. Influenced by Claude Burdin, Fourneyron made significant contributions to the development of water turbines.
In 1827 he built his first working example of a new type of waterwheel - a turbine. It had a horizontal wheel on a vertical shaft, having two sets of blades, curved in opposite directions. It was compact, efficient, and could utilise water at high pressure.
For more information, see Wikipedia.
See also here.
An 1832 Fourneyron turbine and a 1/5 scale model of an 1832 Fourneyron turbine, made in 1844 by Eugène Philippe, are on display at the Musee des Arts et Metiers. See photos.