Background

Albert I of Monaco, born name Albert Honore Charles Grimaldi, was born on November 13, 1848, in Paris, France to Prince Charles III of Monaco and the Belgian Countess Antoinette de Merode-Westerloo. Little is known about his childhood. The calm adolescence of the young prince was also overshadowed by his later life, full of events and discoveries.

Career

Upon the death of his father, Albert became Prince of Monaco on September 10, 1889, and, alongside his expeditions, set about making reforms on political, economic and social levels. In 1870 he fought against Germany as a lieutenant-commander in the French navy.

His career as a navigator actually began in 1873, when he bought a 200-ton schooner, the Pleiad, and renamed it the Hirondelle. By 1885 he had decided to devote himself to the study of the sea, and each following year, for nearly forty years, he made voyages in the North Atlantic, taking soundings wherever he went. He made four cruises in the Hirondelle; six, between 1892 and 1897, in the Princesse Alice /; and twelve, between 1898 and 1910, in the Princesse Alice II. He used the Hirondelle II until his death, making five cruises between 1911 and 1915. He may truly be considered one of the founders of oceanography.

In physical oceanography, Albert studied currents, especially the Gulf Stream (1885). He set out floating mines to study drift in both the North Atlantic and the Arctic. Using the Richard bottle, he took samples of water at various depths in order to determine the differences in temperature. Albert also established three observation centers in the Azores in order to study the meteorology of the ocean regions. One of his major achievements was a general atlas to the millionth, which had twenty-four plates and illustrated the bathymetry of all the oceans; it represented a synthesis of all previous findings.

Albert conducted valuable physiological research as well. Interested in the venom of Physalia, a pelagic coelenlerate, he crushed its tentacles, filtered the product, and injected it into experimental animals. The result was a deep state of anesthesia, and the toxin was therefore called hypnotoxin. This was a first step toward the discovery of anaphylaxis.

Plankton was another concern of Albert’s - from the surface to depths as great as 5,000 meters. His huge, baited polyhedral nets brought forth abundant evidence of a rich and varied balhypelagic fauna. In the waters off the Cape Verde Islands he broke the previous record of 5,800 meters by dredging at a depth of 6,035 meters. Some of his ideas, accepted today, were far ahead of his time: his protests that the depths were being overfished, the use of airplanes to spot schools of fish, and the creation of underwater preserves.

In order to display his collections, Albert founded the Musée Océanographique de Monaco in 1910 and the Institut Océanographique, Paris, in 1911. He also established publications for these institutions; Bulletin du Musée Océanographique in 1904, which became Bulletin de l’Institut Océanographique in 1906, and Annales de l’Institut Océanographique in 1910. Since he was also interested in man’s origin and evolution, Albert founded the Musée Anthropologique de Monaco and the Institut de Paléontologie Humaine in Paris.

Albert was a corresponding member of the Académie des Sciences, Paris, and later a foreign associate member (1909), succeeding Lord Kelvin; a foreign associate member of the Académie de Médecine; and a member of the Académie d’Agriculture (for the model farming practices on his property at Marchais, Aisne).

On 26 September, 1922 Prince Albert I of Monaco died in Paris and the throne of Monaco passed to his son Louis II. Albert I has stayed in the memory of future generations as a Prince Explorer, Prince Scientist, Prince Reformer and Prince Pacifist. Prince Albert I of Monaco lived a life that was truly eclectic and he will continue to be known as inspiring leader in the Principality’s history.

Achievements

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  Albert I is particularly regarded for the initiation of the most significant oceanographic campaigns of his time. The Prince has a total of 28 expeditions to the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea to his credit. His research trips contributed to the discovery of hitherto unknown currents and depths. In contact with the professor Milne-Edwards, who at that time was director of the Natural History Museum in Paris, Prince Albert I nurtured a project to create a temple dedicated to the sea. The goal was to bring to the fore everything he had collected over the years. On the 25th March 1910, the inauguration of Monaco’s Museum of Oceanography was celebrated with an exceptional feast. This was followed on 23rd January, 1911 by the inauguration of the Institute of Oceanography (its name has subsequently been changed to the "Maison des Océans") in Paris. In addition to his interest in oceanographic studies, Albert had a keen interest in the origins of man and in Paris, he founded the "Institute for Human Paleontology" that was responsible for a number of archeological digs.
  
  During one of his travels, the prince and his research team also discovered a new kind of shrimp that was given the name of Albert I. Under the direction of Albert I, the first maps of the world’s ocean depths were created. They were so precise and accurate that they served until 1944. Later maps were updated, but Prince Albert’s version was still used as a basis.
  
  Another discovery by the Prince during his sea expeditions is a small shelf around ​​the Azores archipelago, near Portugal. It was rich in fish and became a key point for fish production in Portugal, as advised by Prince Albert. The place was named “Princess Alice’s shelf” after the ship that carried out the expedition. Also, after his succesful expeditions to Spitsbergen to learn more about the local flora and fauna. In honour of his Arctic travels, north-western Spitsbergen was called the “Land of Albert I” on Spitsbergen.
  
  However, oceanography was not the only science that attacted the Prince’s inquisitive mind. He was also interested in anthropology and palaeontology. The Anthropological Museum was thus opened in Paris in 1902. And a year later, the Institute of Human Palaeontology.
  
  Albert I is also known as an author and publicist. The Prince released a book on the results of his expeditions. It was published under the title “The Navigator’s path” and was very popular.
  
  Profoundly humanistic, Prince Albert I was also revered for founding an International Institute for Peace. This foreshadowed the League of Nations and the UN.
  
  All his discoveries were recognised by the world scientific community. In 1909 Prince Albert I was elected member of the British Academy of Sciences and in 1921 he received an honourary gold medal from the American Geographical Society where he was referred to as “Prince Scientist.”

Works

More photos

• book

  • Résultats des Campagnes Scientifiques Accomplies sur Son Yacht par Albert Ier, Prince Souverain de Monaco

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  • La Carriere D'Un Navigateur

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  • Résultats des Campagnes Scientifiques Accomplies sur Son Yacht par Albert Ier, Prince Souverain de Monaco, Vol. 31: Description des Encéphales de ... Provenant des Campagnes du

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  • Spongiaires Des Acores

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  • Campagnes Scientifiques Du Yacht Monégasque L'hirondelle

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  • Carte Générale Bathymétrique Des Océans: 1. -4.

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Religion

In his religious affiliation Prince Albert I was a Roman Catholic, since the Grimaldis was a family of dedicated Catholics.

Politics

Democratic and modern, Albert I bestowed a constitution upon the principality, a move which proved hugely popular among the people of Monaco.

Views

Throughout his life Prince Albert I was to display a fascination with the sea in both military and civilian life as well as an admirable intellectual curiosity. He dreamt of becoming a conqueror of the Arctic ever since his childhood, when he enthusiastically read adventure stories about conquering the boundless sea, dangerous ice and summits. The prince was able to make his dreams come true. He went on expeditions to Spitsbergen to learn more about the local flora and fauna. In honour of his Arctic travels, north-western Spitsbergen was called the “Land of Albert I”.

The Prince knew too well that he could not embark on any more long voyages, but his desire for exploring the sea depths and learning their secrets did not leave him. Albert I therefore sponsored more than 3,500 expeditions and built research ships mainly from the income of the Monte-Carlo casino.

In addition to his many interests, Prince Albert I was also an ardent supporter of peace. Before the start of the First World War, he was fervent in his efforts to persuade Wilhelm II not to engage in the war. Unfortunately, he did not succeed that time. As soon as the war was declared officially, Monaco announced its neutrality and unwillingness to take part in the hostilities. Although, indirectly Monaco was still on the side of the Allies (the united coalition opposed the German occupation). The Principality offered its spas for a free treatment of soldiers and combatants.

Feeling compassion for people suffering torment under the German occupation, mainly in Belgium and northern France, Albert I turned once again to Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany. He requested that he prevent his troops from mistreating the civil population in the conquered regions that surrendered without resistance. As a result of his active calls, Albert I rescued two French villages in the Alsace region, Sisson and Marche, from possible complete destruction by the Germans.

In continuation of his pacifist policy as a ruler of Monaco, in 1903 the Prince established the World Peace Institute in the Principality. This institution was definitely a forerunner of the later League of Nations, and then, the United Nations. The goal of the Peace Institute was identical to that of the future UN: preservation and maintenance of peace and conflict resolution on an international scale. Albert I, a fierce fighter for justice, closely followed the trial of Captain Dreyfus. He even wrote a public letter inviting him to live in his castle (after Emile Zola criticised the judicial system and claimed Dreyfus case was an error). This letter was published in all the newspapers.

Passionate about justice, he campaigned alongside Zola and Clémenceau for a review in the trial of Captain Dreyfus, even inviting him, in an open letter published by the press, to reside at his castle once compensation had been obtained.

Quotations: “Europe will sort out its problems which are weakening it and devouring its resources, only with consensus and conflict solving.”

During his expedition to the North Pole Captain Albert I writes in his diaries: “I felt genuine happiness to see once again the severe melancholy of Arctic landscapes. At this point, the body and the soul harden in the grand battle and the mind becomes serene and clear as in the years of early youth.”

"I felt genuine happiness to see once again the severe melancholy of Arctic landscapes. At this point, the body and the soul harden in the grand battle and the mind becomes serene and clear as in the years of early youth.”

Membership

Albert I, Prince of Monaco was an honorary member of the Russian Geographical Society and a member of the American Geographical Society. Albert was also a corresponding member of the Académie des Sciences, Paris, and later a foreign associate member (1909), succeeding Lord Kelvin, and a foreign associate member of the Académie de Médecine.

Interests

• geography, oceanography, paleontology

Connections

Albert I married Lady Mary Victoria Douglas-Hamilton, daughter of the 11th Duke of Hamilton (UK). The couple had a son in 1870, but were shortly estranged, and their marriage was annulled ten years later. He succeed to the throne of the Principality of Monaco in 1889 and married a second time to the Dowager Duchess de Richelieu, Marie Alice Heine, that October, only to separate without further children in 1902.

Father:

Charles III

Charles III (8 December 1818 – 10 September 1889) was Prince of Monaco and Duke of Valentinois from 20 June 1856 to his death.

Mother:

Antoinette de Mérode

Antoinette de Merode (Antoinette Ghislaine; 28 September 1828 – 10 February 1864), Princess of Monaco, was born in Brussels as the daughter of Count Werner de Merode (1797-1840) and his spouse, Countess Victoire de Spangen d'Uyternesse (1797–1845).

Wife:

Alice Heine

collaborator:

Henri Milne-Edwards

After ascending to the throne, he became closer to Professor Milne-Edwards, director of the Natural History Museum in Paris. Professor supported the Prince’s idea of creating a “temple” dedicated to the ocean, its history, flora, and fauna.

grandmother:

Maria Caroline Gilbert de Lemetz

Princess Maria Caroline Gilbert de Lemetz; wife of the late Prince Florestan I of Monaco.

ex wife:

Mary Victoria Festetics

separated in 1902

ex-wife's son:

Tasziló József Festetics von Tolna

1882-1942

Son:

Louis II Grimaldi

1870-1949

ex-wife's daughter:

Alexandra (Alex) Olga Eugenia Festetics de Tolna

1884-1963

ex-wife's daughter:

Odile Marie Auguste Septimanie de La Rochefoucauld

1879-1974

ex-wife's daughter:

Maria Festetics von Tolna

1881-1953

ex-wife's daughter:

Karola Friederika Maria Festetics deTolna

1888-1953

References

• Anthropological Work of Prince Albert I of Monaco, and the Recent Progress of Human Paleontology in France. An original article from the Report of the Smithsonian Institution, 1923. Anthropological Work of Prince Albert I of Monaco, and the Recent Progress of Human Paleontology in France. An original article from the Report of the Smithsonian Institution, 1923. [Marcellin Boule] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers.