« GENTLEMAN OF THE POLES »
The famous sailor Jean-Baptiste Charcot became a doctor to please his father.
The great neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot, would have said: «Study your medicine first». Once his degree in his pocket he set full sail for the cold northern seas, aboard his first « Pourquoi-Pas? »(“Why not” in English), a 19,50m cutter. Then after the boater came the explorer. He made two expeditions to the Antarctic, from 1903 to 1905 aboard the « Français », then, from 1908 to 1910, aboard a new « Pourquoi-Pas? » (Fourth of the same name), which made Charcot a famous man. During the First World War, Charcot was first mobilised as a doctor in the Navy before being entrusted by the English with the command of a ship built to fight against submarines. In 1936, aboard « Pourquoi pas ? » IV, commander Charcot disappeared off the Icelandic coast. His body was found a few days later and he was buried in the Montmartre cemetery after a national funeral.
The sporting achievements of Jean-Baptiste Charcot must also be mentioned: French rugby champion with the Olympic club in 1896, he won two silver medals at the Paris Olympic games in 1900!