François Mingaud
Encyclopedia
Captain François Mingaud (sometimes spelled Mingot, Mengaud or Minguad, and often referred to simply as M.
Mingaud; born 4 January 1771 Le Cailar
, Nîmes
, France, died 23 December 1847, Rotterdam
, Netherlands) was an infantry officer in the French army and a carom billiards player. He is credited as the inventor of the leather for a billiards cue
, a "possibly not original idea" that he perfected whilst imprisoned in Paris
for political outspokenness. This revolutionized the game of billiards, allowing the cue ball to be finely manipulated by the application of .
In 1807 he was released from prison and began to demonstrate his invention and spin technique in Paris. Part of his showmanship involved feigning extreme horror as the cue ball recoiled towards him after striking the object ball, and then persuading the audience that the balls should be seized and condemned because they were "tormented by a devil". Mingaud is also credited with the discovery that by raising the cue vertically he could perform what is now known as a shot.
near Nîmes
in the Département of the Gard
in France. He joined the army under Napoleon and served as a Captain.
After his release in 1807 he toured France and Europe demonstrating his 'trick shot' prowess.
In 1822 Mingaud settled on the Hoogstraat in Rotterdam
and by 1825, when he was 64, he had remarried.
, having been an outspoken critic of Napoleon's army. In prison he had access to a billiard-table and so studied the game of billiards. It is surmised that, in an age of simple wooden cues, others had experimented with leather tips but it was Mingaud who perfected both the design and the appropriate playing technique.
In or about 1790 a new practice of rounding off the entire tip further decreased slippage. Some publications credit Mingaud with not just the invention of the leather cue tip but with the practice of rounding off a cue's terminus, while other publications ascribe the practice to no particular author. Regardless, application of spin remained a hit or miss affair, with no fine control yet possible, and miscues still "unavoidable where hard wood came in contact with slippery ivory." Application of or "twist" (sometimes called "English", especially in North America) was at the time an unknown artform.
The patrons of the cafes were astonished by the displays of control and manipulation of the cue ball that they had never seen nor imagined possible. In a short time Mingaud's cue tip innovation became the norm and rapid improvements in the game followed in its wake. In 1823 cue tips from Europe were introduced into the United States, but as their fame had long since preceded them, some of domestic make were already in use. Soon after the introduction of cue tips in France Carom billiards, requiring heavy manipulation of spin, became popular and the scoring by way of "hazards" or pockets was gradually abolished.
, with a square-fronted foot that was generally used to shove rather than strike the cue ball.), he could perform what is now known as a shot.
In circa 1829/30 this book was translated and published in English by the Billiards table Manufacturer John Thurston
of 14 Catherine Street, The Strand. It was published in English as :
, a suburb of Rotterdam.
In Spanish, "Mingo" is a slang term that refers to the red ball used in carom billiards. It is named after Mingaud.
In the 1990s, Cees Sprangers began to research the 'lost mystery' that Mingaud had become. His results were published in essay form in 1994 in Victor Stein and Paul Rubino's Billiard Encyclopedia. He revealed many details of Mingaud's life, including his first name, fleshed out his personal history, and to a large extent, clarified the details on his role in the invention of the leather cue tip.
Monsieur
' is an honorific title that used to refer to or address the eldest living brother of the king in the French royal court. It is also a customary French title of respect and term of address for a French-speaking man, corresponding to such English titles as Mr...
Mingaud; born 4 January 1771 Le Cailar
Le Cailar
Le Cailar is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
, Nîmes
Nîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
, France, died 23 December 1847, Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, Netherlands) was an infantry officer in the French army and a carom billiards player. He is credited as the inventor of the leather for a billiards cue
Cue stick
A cue stick , is an item of sporting equipment essential to the games of pool, snooker and carom billiards. It is used to strike a ball, usually the...
, a "possibly not original idea" that he perfected whilst imprisoned in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for political outspokenness. This revolutionized the game of billiards, allowing the cue ball to be finely manipulated by the application of .
In 1807 he was released from prison and began to demonstrate his invention and spin technique in Paris. Part of his showmanship involved feigning extreme horror as the cue ball recoiled towards him after striking the object ball, and then persuading the audience that the balls should be seized and condemned because they were "tormented by a devil". Mingaud is also credited with the discovery that by raising the cue vertically he could perform what is now known as a shot.
Personal life
Mingaud was born in 1771 in Le CailarLe Cailar
Le Cailar is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:-References:*...
near Nîmes
Nîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
in the Département of the Gard
Gard
Gard is a département located in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region.The department is named after the River Gard, although the formerly Occitan name of the River Gard, Gardon, has been replacing the traditional French name in recent decades, even among French speakers.- History...
in France. He joined the army under Napoleon and served as a Captain.
After his release in 1807 he toured France and Europe demonstrating his 'trick shot' prowess.
In 1822 Mingaud settled on the Hoogstraat in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
and by 1825, when he was 64, he had remarried.
Billiards
Mingaud was imprisoned in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, having been an outspoken critic of Napoleon's army. In prison he had access to a billiard-table and so studied the game of billiards. It is surmised that, in an age of simple wooden cues, others had experimented with leather tips but it was Mingaud who perfected both the design and the appropriate playing technique.
In or about 1790 a new practice of rounding off the entire tip further decreased slippage. Some publications credit Mingaud with not just the invention of the leather cue tip but with the practice of rounding off a cue's terminus, while other publications ascribe the practice to no particular author. Regardless, application of spin remained a hit or miss affair, with no fine control yet possible, and miscues still "unavoidable where hard wood came in contact with slippery ivory." Application of or "twist" (sometimes called "English", especially in North America) was at the time an unknown artform.
Impact on the game
In 1807, Mingaud was released from prison and began to demonstrate his invention and technique in the cafes of Paris. He reportedly developed a repertoire of 40 shots, including glancing blows, side-spin, backspin, topspin and the raised cue 'massé' shots.The patrons of the cafes were astonished by the displays of control and manipulation of the cue ball that they had never seen nor imagined possible. In a short time Mingaud's cue tip innovation became the norm and rapid improvements in the game followed in its wake. In 1823 cue tips from Europe were introduced into the United States, but as their fame had long since preceded them, some of domestic make were already in use. Soon after the introduction of cue tips in France Carom billiards, requiring heavy manipulation of spin, became popular and the scoring by way of "hazards" or pockets was gradually abolished.
Reputation
Mingaud's reputation grew rapidly and he became known as the 'great master of the game'. According to Roberts on Billiards published in 1893 by John Roberts :A few years later [after 1807] he became known as the great master of the game. He could nurse a break, screw, and cause his ball to follow with the utmost nicety and certainty.
Mingaud quietly advanced, took up [the cue] and struck the white ball, which, after contact with the red, recoiled upon him. Affecting extreme horror, he dropped the cue, and summoned the waiter, to whom he explained that when he had pushed a ball forward it ran backwards. The spectators were incredulous, and, in reply to their entreaties, Mingaud attempted another stroke, but with the same result. The balls were seized and condemned as "tormented by a devil",
Invention of the Massé shot
Mingaud is also credited with the discovery that by raising the cue vertically, to the position adopted by the mace (The forerunner of the cue, similar to a light-weight golf clubGolf club (equipment)
A golf club is used to hit a golf ball in a game of golf. Each club is composed of a shaft with a grip and a clubhead. Woods are mainly used for long-distance fairway or tee shots; irons, the most versatile class, are used for a variety of shots; Hybrids that combine design elements of woods and...
, with a square-fronted foot that was generally used to shove rather than strike the cue ball.), he could perform what is now known as a shot.
Further development of the leather cue tip
'Hénine Ainé' was founded in 1830 and improved Mingaud's invention by creating the 'screw-in tip', making tip replacement a much easier affair.Book - Noble Jeu de Billard
In 1827 Mingaud published a book in Paris titled Noble Jeu de Billiard - Coups extraordinaires et surprenans. (The Noble Game of Billiards. Extraordinary and surprising strokes) It contained 43 copper-plate images and precise instructions for performing 70 strokes.In circa 1829/30 this book was translated and published in English by the Billiards table Manufacturer John Thurston
John Thurston
John Mellen Thurston was a United States Senator from Nebraska.Thurston was born in Montpelier, Vermont. He moved with his parents to Madison, Wisconsin, in 1854 and two years later to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He attended the public schools and graduated from Wayland University in Beaver Dam, where...
of 14 Catherine Street, The Strand. It was published in English as :
The Noble Game of Billiards
Extraordinary and surprising strokes which have excited the admiration of most of the Sovereigns of Europe.
Death and commemoration
He died in 1847 and his grave is in the churchyard at Kralingen-CrooswijkKralingen-Crooswijk
Kralingen-Crooswijk is a township of the city of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It is located at the immediate east of the city's centre. As of 2005 it has about 52,379 inhabitants and has a territory of about 1,286 ha...
, a suburb of Rotterdam.
In Spanish, "Mingo" is a slang term that refers to the red ball used in carom billiards. It is named after Mingaud.
In the 1990s, Cees Sprangers began to research the 'lost mystery' that Mingaud had become. His results were published in essay form in 1994 in Victor Stein and Paul Rubino's Billiard Encyclopedia. He revealed many details of Mingaud's life, including his first name, fleshed out his personal history, and to a large extent, clarified the details on his role in the invention of the leather cue tip.
Sources
- Roberts on Billiards by John Roberts (Senior) published 1869
- Treasury of Trick Shots in Pool & Billiards" by Robert Byrne, published 1983