Voyage of the Scotia 1902-04

William Speirs Bruce, 1867-1921

Scientific staff and officers of the Princesse Alice

Prior to his organisation and leadership of the 1902-1904 Scottish National Antarctic Expedition, William S Bruce had, in 1898 and 1899, served as a researcher on two trips to Spitzbergen. These were on the oceanographic research vessel Princesse Alice, which belonged to Albert Grimaldi (later to become Prince Albert I of Monaco).

Grimaldi (great-grandfather of Prince Rainier III of Monaco) was an oceanography enthusiast. He founded the Oceanographic Institutes in Monaco and Paris as well as the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco which later became famous through the work of Jacques Cousteau, its director from 1957 to 1988.

Bruce became a close friend of Grimaldi, who supported his scientific research. Here we see some of Bruce's colleagues on the deck of Princesse Alice.