Charcot, Jean Baptiste Etienne Auguste (1867-1936)

French doctor and Antarctic explorer who commanded the French Antarctic expeditions of 1903-05 and 1908-10. The first expedition roughly charted the west coast of Graham Land to Adelaide Island. The second expedition extended these charts and brought back much valuable scientific information.

He was born at Neuilly-sur-Seine, France. The expedition of 1908-10 was undertaken in the Pourquoi Pas. Continuing the work of his earlier voyage, more of the west coast of Graham Land, including Adelaide Island, Alexander Island, and Deception Island, was charted. Much hydrographic work was done, for example the taking of soundings and surface and deep-sea temperatures, deep-sea dredging, and fishing with tow and vertical nets. Charcot published accounts of his explorations in Le Français au Pole Sud/The Frenchman at the South Pole (1905), and Le Pourquoi Pas dans l'Antarctique/The Pourquoi Pas in the Antarctic (1910). He died at sea.