Henri Fayol was a French mining engineer and director who developed one of the first comprehensive theories of general management in the early 20th century. He identified 14 principles of management based on his experience, including division of work, authority, discipline, unity of command, and subordination of individual interests. In 1916, he published his theories in the book "Administration Industrielle et Générale." Fayol's principles of management helped establish the basic framework for modern management practice and business administration.