Louis Renault (1877-1944), French industrialist and pioneering car manufacturer. Renault built his first car, the Voiturette, in 1898. With his brothers, he set up the Renault car design and manufacturing company in 1899. In 1908, he assumed overall control after one of the brothers died (in 1903) and the other retired (1908). Louis Renault was awarded the Legion of Honour after WWI for his military designs, including the Renault tank. He died in prison awaiting trial after WWII on charges of Nazi collaboration. Photographed in Washington DC, USA, on 11 June 1940, during talks with President Roosevelt about tank production.