His death was brutal and sudden.
The School of Advanced Studies in Social Sciences (EHESS) announced this on its website this Monday.
Philippe Minard, director of studies, died the day before, at the age of 62.
His body was found in a home, Quai de l'Artois in Nogent-sur-Marne, during the night of Saturday March 23 to Sunday March 24.
He spent the evening with friends.
The latter called for help.
But the victim could not be saved.
According to several sources, the man may have choked while eating a banana.
“One of the most inventive historians of his generation”
“An investigation has been opened to determine the causes of death,” specifies the Créteil public prosecutor’s office, which declined to make any further comments.
The investigations were entrusted to the municipal police station.
The memory of this pillar of the Revue d'histoire moderne et contemporain has been widely praised by his peers on social networks since the announcement of his death.
“
After a career of excellence, he became one of the most inventive historians of his generation”, describes Romain Huret, the president of the EHESS, in a tribute paid to this historian known in particular for his thesis “L’inspection of manufactures in France, from Colbert to the Revolution”, subsequently published by Fayard.
#Tribute
EHESS learned with deep sadness of the disappearance of Philippe Minard, one of the most inventive historians of his generation.
Professor at @UnivParis8, he joined EHESS and @CRH_ehess in 2007 as cumulative director of studies.
➡️ https://t.co/5ZMqaIMzln pic.twitter.com/0GmMhsiRig
— EHESS (@EHESS_fr) March 25, 2024
Before unfolding his journey.
“Elected in 2005 as professor at the University of Paris VIII, he joined the EHESS and the Center for Historical Research in 2007 as director of studies, combining with a chair in the comparative history of socio-economic regulation in France and England at modern times, recalls the head of the institution.
Throughout his life, this respected and demanding researcher defended the importance of social and economic aspects in understanding past societies.
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