Jean-Baptiste Masui

Jean-Baptiste Masui (1798–1860) was a civil engineer who became Director General of Railways, Posts and Telegraphs in Belgium.

Life Masui was born in Brussels, which at the time was annexed to the First French Republic, on 17 January 1798. His parents were the joiner Michel-Joseph Masui and his wife Marie-Catherine Schoy. After studying at the French Imperial School of Manufactures, the young Masui was appointed engineer to the city of Brussels. His first responsibility was to oversee improvements to the navigability of the Willebroek Canal, after which he was appointed director of works on the canal.

On 29 October 1830, in the wake of the Belgian Revolution, the Provisional Government of Belgium appointed Masui engineer second-class of roads and bridges. In this capacity he worked on completing the Brussels–Charleroi Canal. His final years were overshadowed by the premature loss of his wife and daughter. He died in Brussels on 11 December 1860. Thousands attended his funeral at the Church of Our Lady of Finisterrae in Brussels.

Honours and awards Masui was a commander in the Order of Leopold I.

A white marble statue of Masui, carved by Charles-Auguste Fraikin and paid for by voluntary subscription, was unveiled at Brussels-North railway station on 1 May 1867.

A road, a square and a tram stop in Schaarbeek are named in memory of Masui.