Minard Family Genealogy & History

Charles Joseph Minard was a distinguished French civil engineer renowned for his pioneering contributions to information graphics and civil engineering. Born on March 27, 1781, Minard excelled in creating flow maps, which effectively represented numerical data on geographic maps. His most celebrated work is the cartographic depiction of Napoleon's Russian campaign losses in 1812. Minard's career also included roles such as inspector general of the Corps of Bridges and a permanent member of the Conseil général des ponts et chaussées. He earned the Legion of Honor for his work and retired in 1851, dedicating his later years to private research and the production of thematic maps that have left a lasting impact on data visualization.

Charles Joseph Minard was born in Dijon, France, in the Saint Michel parish to Pierre Étienne Minard, a court clerk and school officer, and Bénigne Boiteux. His father played a significant role in fostering Minard's early education, encouraging his intellectual pursuits from a young age. Minard's early academic journey was marked by remarkable achievements, including his admission to the prestigious École Polytechnique at the age of fifteen. His family background provided a supportive foundation for his future successes in civil engineering and information graphics.

Chris Minard, born November 18, 1981, is a retired Canadian ice hockey player known for his time in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Edmonton Oilers, and later in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL). Starting his professional career in 2002 with the Pensacola Ice Pilots, Minard made his NHL debut with the Penguins in 2008, where he recorded his first NHL goal against the Buffalo Sabres. Despite being part of the Penguins' Stanley Cup-winning team in 2009, he did not play enough games to have his name engraved on the cup. Minard concluded his 15-year career with Düsseldorfer EG in 2017.

Chris Minard's brother, Mike Minard, also briefly played in the NHL as a goaltender for the Edmonton Oilers.

David Minard was a distinguished American physiologist known for his pivotal role in developing the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Index, a tool essential for assessing heat stress in military and industrial settings. As a U.S. Navy captain and head of the physiology department at the Naval Medical Research Institute, he contributed significantly to Project Mercury by evaluating the Mercury Seven astronauts. Minard's academic journey included a Ph.D. in physiology and an M.D. from the University of Chicago, followed by a master's in public health from Harvard University. His career spanned academia and clinical practice, earning him accolades such as the Gorgas Medal and the Outstanding Civilian Service Medal.

Everett Lawrence Minard III was a pioneering American journalist, best known as the founding editor of Forbes Global. Minard's illustrious career at Forbes began in 1974, where he quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming managing editor before launching Forbes Global in 1998. His work earned him numerous accolades, including two Business Journalist of the Year awards. Known for his insightful economic analyses, Minard was instrumental in expanding Forbes' international presence and competed against major publications like The Economist and Business Week.

Born in Seattle, Washington, on November 19, 1949, Lawrence Minard was the son of Nancy and Everett Lawrence Minard Jr. He had two brothers, Frank and Michael, and spent part of his childhood in Juneau, Alaska.