Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard, born 1848 in São Nicolau, Porto, was a Portuguese engineer, of French origin, known for having built many lifts and funiculars in Portugal. He died 1914 in Inhambane, Mozambique.

Raul Mesnier studied mathematics and philosophy at the University of Coimbra  and in Mechanical Engineering in France. He traveled through Switzerland and Germany where he attended workshops and got in touch with designers and manufacturers of railway equipment. He was an apprentice of Gustave Eiffel.

As an engineer he was a designer of systems for elevators and public transport.

Important  Works:

Elevator of Bom Jesus, Braga

Funicular of Guindais, Porto

Elevator of Santa Justa, Lisbon

Elevator of Nazareth,  Nazareth