Why was Ringuelet named after an engineer? The answer lies in the history of Argentina’s railways. Ringuelet is a town in Buenos Aires Province. It owes its existence to the Ferrocarril del Sur. This railway connected Buenos Aires with La Plata.
Ringuelet’s story begins with Augusto Ringuelet. He was a French engineer who arrived in Argentina in 1863. His mission was to develop the country’s railways. Augusto participated in many railway projects. He helped bring the train to La Plata when the city was founded in 1882.
The land for Ringuelet station belonged to Jorge Bell. He sold it to the state. Augusto Ringuelet oversaw the construction. In his honor the station was named Ringuelet. The station began operating on June 1 1886. This date is considered the town’s founding.
Augusto Ringuelet was born in France in 1829. He studied in Paris and became an engineer in 1851. Because of his liberal ideas, he moved to Switzerland. Later, he moved to Argentina in 1863.
In Buenos Aires, Augusto joined Otto Arning’s firm. He worked on expanding the Ferrocarril del Oeste. By 1872, he became the company’s manager. During a yellow fever epidemic in 1871, Augusto built a railway to the Chacarita cemetery. This helped transport bodies quickly.
Augusto also helped build telegraph lines. He served on committees for bridge projects and public buildings. In 1872, he co-founded the Argentine Scientific Society. He created the first railway regulations in Argentina in 1873.
Ringuelet retired in 1882 due to health reasons. He traveled to Europe. He inspected railway equipment for the Ferrocarril del Oeste. In 1889, he advised Argentina’s commission at the Paris World Fair.
Returning to Argentina, he joined the Banco Hipotecario’s board. The Faculty of Mathematics honored him. It recognized his engineering work over 31 years. Augusto Ringuelet died in La Plata on July 14 1915 at age 85. He was respected for his contributions to railways and public works.
But there is also another Ringuelet to know about. This Ringuelet was a doctor. Dr. Raúl A. Ringuelet founded the Institute of Limnology of La Plata in 1969. He was born in La Plata in 1914. He studied at the National College. In 1939, he earned a doctorate in Natural Sciences. He was a zoologist. His research covered many topics. These included taxonomy, biology, and ecology. He also focused on protecting fauna and conservation. Dr. Ringuelet dedicated his life to science. He died in 1982. The Institute of Limnology is named after him. It stands as a testament to his work.
So Ringuelet carries two legacies. One is from the railway engineer. The other is from the dedicated doctor. Both men contributed to Argentina’s progress in their own ways.