Jean-Baptiste Charcot facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jean-Baptiste Auguste Étienne Charcot
Charcot in 1925
Born	15 July 1867 (1867-07-15) Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
Died	16 September 1936 (1936-09-17) (aged 69) at sea, off Iceland
Nationality	French
Occupation	Polar explorer, doctor
Spouse(s)	Jeanne Hugo (1896–1905; div.)
Sailing career Class(es) 0 to 0.5 ton Open class Medal record Sailing Representing  France Olympic Games Silver 1900 Paris Ton class 1st race Silver 1900 Paris Ton class 2nd race Updated on 2014-02-08.

Jean-Baptiste Charcot (born on July 15, 1867 – died on September 16, 1936) was a famous French scientist, doctor, and explorer. He was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. His father, Jean-Martin Charcot, was also a very well-known doctor who studied the brain.

Exploring the Poles

Vague Bleue ou Pourquoi pas. Hommage au commandant Charcot, a painting by French artist Arnaud Courlet de Vregille from 2016.

Jean-Baptiste Charcot loved to explore cold places like the Arctic and Antarctic. He led several important trips to these icy regions.

First Antarctic Journey (1904-1907)

From 1904 to 1907, Charcot led the first French Antarctic Expedition. He sailed on a ship called the Français. During this trip, he explored the western coast of a place called Graham Land. His team reached Adelaide Island in 1905. They also took many pictures of the Palmer Archipelago and the Loubet Coast.

Second Antarctic Journey (1908-1910)

Charcot went on another big expedition from 1908 to 1910. This time, he used a ship named Pourquoi Pas ?, which means "Why Not?" in French. On this journey, he explored the Bellingshausen Sea and the Amundsen Sea. His team discovered new places like Loubet Land, Marguerite Bay, and Mount Boland. They also found Charcot Island, which he named after his father. He named Hugo Island after Victor Hugo, who was the grandfather of his wife, Jeanne Hugo.

Later Explorations and Legacy

After his Antarctic trips, Charcot continued exploring. In 1921, he explored Rockall, a small rocky island. From 1925 to 1936, he explored Eastern Greenland and Svalbard, which are in the Arctic.

Sadly, Jean-Baptiste Charcot died in 1936. His ship, the Pourquoi-Pas?, was caught in a big storm off the coast of Iceland and sank.

People remember Charcot for his brave explorations. Two monuments were built in his honor in Reykjavík, Iceland. One was made by Einar Jónsson in 1936, and another by Ríkarður Jónsson in 1952. A type of plant called a lichen was also named after him in 2014, called Charcotiana.

Sports Achievements

Besides being a great explorer, Jean-Baptiste Charcot was also very good at sports. He loved sailing. He even won two silver medals in sailing at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris.

See also

In Spanish: Jean-Baptiste Charcot para niños

• Charcot Fan
• Charcot Land