Prince Albert 1 of Monaco (13 November 1848 - 26 June 1922) dedicated an important part of his life to oceanography.
When he was seventeen years old, he enrolled in the Spanish Navy and left it in 1868. Two years later, he took part in the war as a lieutenant in the French Navy. In 1873, he purchased a 200 tonne sail boat, the Hirondelle, aboard which he travelled across the Mediterranean and the Atlantic all the way to the Azores.
For ten years, from 1884 on, he acquired the knowledge leading him to begin a magnificent career as a mariner and scientist.
As early as 1885, Prince Albert 1 of Monaco toyed with idea of creating a marine biology laboratory in the Principality. During the Paris World Fair, in 1889, his scientific collections, shown at the Monaco Pavilion, evoked huge interest. The Prince thought out the definite plan of an Oceanographic Museum.
The cornerstone was laid on 25 April 1899. The inauguration, Celebrated with exceptional pomp, took place on 29 March 1910.
The Oceanographic Institute
Foundation Albert 1, Prince of Monaco
The Oceanographic Institute, devoted to marine sciences and founded in 1906 by H.S.H. Prince Albert 1 of Monaco, is an independent institution, recognized by the French Government as having statutory authority (presidential decree of 16 May 1906). The administrative management belongs to a Board of Directors, the scientific management to a Scientific Advisory Board.
In Paris, teaching is given in two splendid amphitheatres.
Higher level teaching in oceanography, intended for researchers and students, is given in seminars and advanced level courses. The teachers are members of the international scientific community.
Teaching the general public, as decided by Prince Albert 1, is faithful to the spirit of a people's university: free conferences are given on a regular basis.
The library keeps important holdings consulted by a large public of Parisian readers. Two scientific publications are published by the Oceanographic Institute: Annales del'Institut Océanographique, created in 1910; and Oceanis, since 1976, geared more especially to students.
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Prince Albert 1
The Oceanographic Institute, devoted to marine sciences and founded in 1906 by H.S.H. Prince Albert 1 of Monaco, is an independent institution, recognized by the French Government as having statutory authority (presidential decree of 16 May 1906). The administrative management belongs to a Board of Directors, the scientific management to a Scientific Advisory Board.