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Augustin Mouchot (April 7, 1825 – October 4, 1911) was a French inventor of the earliest solar-powered engine, converting solar energy into mechanical steam power.

Mouchot was born in Semur-en-Auxois, France on 7 April 1825. He first taught at the primary schools of Morvan (1845–49) and later Dijon, before attaining a degree in Mathematics in 1852 and a Bachelor of Physical Sciences in 1853. Subsequently, he taught mathematics in the secondary schools of Alençon (1853–62), Rennes and Lycée de Tours (1864–71). It was during this period that he undertook research into solar energy, which led eventually to his obtaining government funding for full-time research.

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