1787
Guillaume-Henri Dufour was born in Constance but grew up in Geneva where he studied the humanities and physics.
1807–1810
He continued his education in Paris (Ecole Polytechnique) and in Metz (Ecole supérieure d'application du génie).
1810–1817
Served in the French army. Dufour made his career in the Swiss army and was co-founder of the military school in Thun, where he also instructed Prince Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte.
1817—1850
Chief engineer of the Canton of Geneva
1832–1865
Responsible for surveying and establishing the "Topographic Map of Switzerland 1:100,000" which was later called the Dufour Map.
1840
Dufour's suggestion for a national flag was accepted.
1863
One of the five founders of the later International Committee of the Red Cross.
1875
Dufour died at the age of 89 in Les Eaux-Vives. He received a state funeral attended by over 60,000 people from all over Switzerland.