Albert Ier of Monaco

Biography

Born Albert Honore Charles Grimaldi the November 13rd 1848 with Paris (France), he is the son of the prince Charles III of Monaco (1818-1889), and of the countess Antoinette de Mérode-Westerloo (1828-1864). He studies with the Collège Stanislas of Paris

Military service and war of 1870

It carries out its military service in the navy of Spanish war, then engaged heroically in the marine of French war during the Franco-German Guerre of 1870 for which it was decorated with the Légion of honor.

Marriages

Via the Empress Eugenie (wife of Napoleon III), the prince married Mary Victoria Douglas Hamilton in 1869 with the castle of Marchais. They had an only son, the prince Louis II of Monaco. Refractory with this arranged marriage, the princess obtained the divorce in 1880.

The prince remaria with the duchess Dowager of Richelieu, Alice Heine, in 1889, of which it did not have a child.

Accession with the throne

Albert 1st of Monaco reaches the throne the September 10th 1889 old 41 years, the day of the disappearance of his father.

Oceanography, paleontology, geography

In 1850, it is 22 years old when it impassions for oceanographical exploration . It organizes many oceanographical scientific exhibitions and Cartographique S accompanied by many scientists

Oceanographical museum of Monaco

In 1889 it founds the oceanographical Institut of Monaco and makes build the oceanographical Musée of Monaco entirely dedicated to the sea, with museum, Laboratoire S, Collection S of parts brought back of its explorations, Aquarium S of fauna and Flore of the funds submarine of the the Mediterranean, scientific bookstore, files…

The prince-scientist declared during the inauguration: “Here, Sirs, you see it, the ground Monegasque made emerge a proud and inviolable temple dedicated to the new divinity who reigns on the intelligences”. It took part inter alia, with the exploration of the Svalbard of which it wrote a very precise Cartographie at the beginning of the Années 1900. Some of these charts are still used failing to have published some more recently.

It is also interested at the origins of the Humanité and founds a Institut Paléontologie and directs many archaeological excavations in the world.

He is member of the Société of geography and the British Academy in 1909 of which he is decorated with the gold medal for his many scientific contributions.

Discovered allergy

Contrary to the Vaccination, the scientists of its team discover the anaphylaxie (called nowadays the Allergie S).

Pacifism

After his military heroism of the Franco-German War of 1870, Albert became a prince Pacifiste and founded a “Institute of international law for Peace” to Monaco with an aim of arbitrating conflicts of planet. He tried by this skew to dissuade the Kaiser Guillaume II from Germany to declare the First World War. When the war was declared, he declared the Neutralité Monaco and intervened only for neutral medical help with wounded and the patients with his son Louis II of Monaco.

Foundation Albert 1st

In 1906 after years of research and oceanographical forwardings, then 58 years old, it created the Fondation Albert Ier street Saint-Jacob with Paris in France, Reconnue public utility, so that its scientific work is continued and made gift of the oceanographical Musée of Monaco to its foundation.

Rally of Monte Carlo

In 1911 it created the Car rally Monte Carlo, gained this year by French Henri Rougier.

Disappearance

Prince Albert Ier of Monaco died the June 26th 1922 in Paris (France), at the 74 years age. His/her son Louis II of Monaco succeeded to him. The Îles of the Prince de Monaco (Kerguelen) are named in homage to its scientific exploring work.

Its back small son Albert II de Monaco ambitionne to continue the work of its grandfather with his Fondation Albert-II-OF-Monaco creates in 2006.

Philately

It constituted the philatelic collection which, enriched by acquisitions of his/her son Louis II, allows the creation of a Musée of the stamps and currencies by his/her small son Rainier III in 1950.

See too

Foundation Albert Ier
Islands of the Prince de oceanographical Monaco
Museum of Monaco
Principality of Monaco, History of Monaco.

External bond

Official site of the Oceanographical Museum of Monaco

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