Frederic Marguet

Frederic Marguet (1874-1951)

Born in 1874, Frederic Marguet entered to the Naval college in 1891, where it was not long in being distinguished, it left first besides there. After a dozen last years to the sea, it returned to the Naval college in the capacity as professor of Naval architecture, then of Astronomy and Navigation. It made all its career there, within the active framework initially, then within the framework “of fixed residence” reserved to the officers whose certain special aptitudes were useful for the Navy in important exclusive sedentary functions of the general service. Arrived at the age limit in 1933, in the rank of captain, it was maintained at the School on a purely civil basis as secretary archivist, in fact Directeur of the studies. It was withdrawn then in Paris, in 1937, then with City-new-Loubet in 1940. Its teaching had on the maritime young generations a considerable influence as well in the merchant navy as in the military navy. Many professors of navigation were formed by the commander Marguet who showed himself in this field the continuator of the work of the commander Guyou.

This teaching is exposed in two works: Course of astronomy of the Naval college and Course of navigation and compass , several times republished. The second of these works contains a great number of new developments relating mainly to the theory of the curves height and the properties of the spherical able segments. In 1926, the Academy recognized the high value of these innovations by awarding the Plumey prize to their author.

This dedication exempts to us to enumerate the many publications in which Frederic Marguet had announced the original results of his personal research. Let us mention however that it did not cease continuing them and facilitating the application to aeronautics of it, as testifies an extremely interesting note to it on the point by means of the radiogoniometric raisings inserted into the Reports, in 1935.

Frederic Marguet also showed very skilful observer. Long series of precise observations of the Jupiter satellites undertaken in Brest had drawn to him the attention of the Andoyer astronomer who used the results of them to rectify the tables of the satellites in the Connaissance of Times . One must also know liking in Frederic Marguet to have largely contributed by his publications in the `' Re-examined maritime'' and in the memories of the academy of Navy has to reveal the novel ideas on the general movements of the atmosphere and the genesis of the tides.

Lastly, Frederic Marguet devoted an important part of his work to the history of sciences and philosophy. Its Histoire of longitude to the sea at the XVIIIe century was worth to him, in 1915, a share of the Binoux price of the Academy of Science and a gold medal of the Company of geography. This remarkable draft was supplemented by a general Histoire of the navigation of XVe at the XXe century (1931) which constitutes a work really very complete. We have still to announce interesting studies on the Knowledge of the Times, the Planisphere of Mercator, Portulans, the Mission of the passage of Come to the island Saint-Paul, the Tour of Baudin to Australia, etc With dimensions philosophical one, it is especially appropriate to retain an article on the Origin of the Species, favorably appreciated by Bergson; an important Report inserted in the review of metaphysics and morals (1902-1903) under the title: Test of ontology; finally a beautiful study on the Idea of Fatherland (id. 1904). In short Frederic Marguet affirmed himself like a nautical theorist of great value, a skilful observer, a maritime historian out of par and an eminently distinguished spirit. It with all these titles that it was, in 1937, is elected Correspondant of the Academy in the Section of geography and navigation, last dedication of a beautiful career dedicated to the service of the country, navy and science. The last years of its life were obscured by the loss of a son whom he cherished, the Marguet captain, died for France in Indo-China. He less did not work about it until the term of his existence to supplement his large Histoire of navigation .

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