Simone Melchior
Encyclopedia
Simone Melchior Cousteau (January 19, 1919 - Dec. 1, 1990) was the wife and business partner of undersea explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau
. The first woman scuba diver
, Simone was at Jacques's side during his major underwater accomplishments. She led him to the men and money who would build his scuba invention, she helped buy their beloved Calypso, saved the ship during a storm, and made sure each exploration achieved its objective.
Although never visible in the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau series, Simone played a key role in the operation at sea. Acting as mother, healer, nurse and psychiatrist to the all-male crew for 40 years, her nickname was "La Bergere," the Shepherdess.
Simone was born on January 19, 1919 in Toulon
, France. Her father Henri Melchior and both grandfathers Jules Melchior (paternal) and Jean Baehme (maternal) were admirals in the French Navy. Simone's mother was Marguerite Melchior, affectionately called Guitte. She had two brothers: Maurice, and Simone's twin, Michel.
In 1924, Henri Melchior, as a director with Air Liquide
(France's main producer of industrial gases), moved his family to Kobe, Japan. Simone learned Japanese at the age of five years.
Simone met her future husband, Jacques, at a cocktail party in 1937. He was a naval officer of 27 and she was 18. They were married at Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, in Paris, on July 12, 1937.
After a honeymoon in Switzerland and Italy the Cousteaus settled in Le Mourillon
, a district of Toulon
. Jean-Michel
was born May 6, 1938 and Philippe Pierre
December 30, 1940. Both sons were born on the family's kitchen table.
In 1942, Simone's father provided financing and the manufacturing expertise of Emile Gagnan
at Air Liquide to build Jacques Cousteau's aqua lung
. Simone was indirectly to hold the key to this significant step in diving history. She was present in 1943 at the testing of the prototype for the aqua lung, in the Marne River outside Paris. The new invention was employed to locate and remove enemy mines after World War II.
The Cousteau family's underwater investigation and exploration led to the purchase of the minesweeper Calypso
on July 19, 1950. Loel Guinness
bought the ship and leased it to Jacques for a dollar a year. Simone sold her family jewels for the Calypsos fuel, and her fur to buy a compass and gyroscope. (1) The Calypso set off in 1952 on her maiden voyage, to the Red Sea. Simone was the only woman on board.
Describing his wife, Jacques Cousteau said, "She was the happiest out of camera range, in the crow's nest of Calypso
, for example, scanning the sea for whales. Nothing would get by her." He continued, "She lives to spend hour after hour in the wind and the sun, watching, thinking, trying to unravel the mystery of the sea." (2) Simone died in 1990 of cancer. She received a full military funeral, during which her ashes were scattered over the Sea of Monaco.
Jacques-Yves Cousteau
Jacques-Yves Cousteau was a French naval officer, explorer, ecologist, filmmaker, innovator, scientist, photographer, author and researcher who studied the sea and all forms of life in water...
. The first woman scuba diver
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
, Simone was at Jacques's side during his major underwater accomplishments. She led him to the men and money who would build his scuba invention, she helped buy their beloved Calypso, saved the ship during a storm, and made sure each exploration achieved its objective.
Although never visible in the Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau series, Simone played a key role in the operation at sea. Acting as mother, healer, nurse and psychiatrist to the all-male crew for 40 years, her nickname was "La Bergere," the Shepherdess.
Simone was born on January 19, 1919 in Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
, France. Her father Henri Melchior and both grandfathers Jules Melchior (paternal) and Jean Baehme (maternal) were admirals in the French Navy. Simone's mother was Marguerite Melchior, affectionately called Guitte. She had two brothers: Maurice, and Simone's twin, Michel.
In 1924, Henri Melchior, as a director with Air Liquide
Air Liquide
L'Air Liquide S.A., or Air Liquide , is a major French company supplying industrial gases and services to various industries including medical, chemical and electronic manufacturers. Founded in 1902, it is first in the world market in its field, now operating in over 80 countries. It is...
(France's main producer of industrial gases), moved his family to Kobe, Japan. Simone learned Japanese at the age of five years.
Simone met her future husband, Jacques, at a cocktail party in 1937. He was a naval officer of 27 and she was 18. They were married at Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, in Paris, on July 12, 1937.
After a honeymoon in Switzerland and Italy the Cousteaus settled in Le Mourillon
Le Mourillon
Le Mourillon is a small seaside neighborhood to the east of the French city of Toulon, near the entrance to the Rade or roadstead. It was once a fishing village, and then became the home of many of the officers of the French fleet and to part of the naval dockyard. Mourillon has a small fishing...
, a district of Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
. Jean-Michel
Jean-Michel Cousteau
Jean-Michel Cousteau is a French explorer, environmentalist, educator, and film producer. The first son of ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau, he is the father of Fabien Cousteau and Celine Cousteau.-Biography:...
was born May 6, 1938 and Philippe Pierre
Philippe Cousteau
Philippe Cousteau was a documentary film maker specializing in environmental issues, with a background in oceanography. He was the second son of Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Simone Cousteau....
December 30, 1940. Both sons were born on the family's kitchen table.
In 1942, Simone's father provided financing and the manufacturing expertise of Emile Gagnan
Emile Gagnan
Émile Gagnan was a French engineer and co-inventor of the diving regulator used for the first Scuba equipment in 1943...
at Air Liquide to build Jacques Cousteau's aqua lung
Aqua-lung
Aqua-Lung was the original name of the first open-circuit free-swimming underwater breathing set in reaching worldwide popularity and commercial success...
. Simone was indirectly to hold the key to this significant step in diving history. She was present in 1943 at the testing of the prototype for the aqua lung, in the Marne River outside Paris. The new invention was employed to locate and remove enemy mines after World War II.
The Cousteau family's underwater investigation and exploration led to the purchase of the minesweeper Calypso
Calypso (ship)
RV Calypso is a former British Royal Navy Minesweeper converted into a research vessel for the oceanographic researcher Jacques-Yves Cousteau, equipped with a mobile laboratory for underwater field research. She was severely damaged in 1996, and is undergoing a complete refurbishment in 2009-2011...
on July 19, 1950. Loel Guinness
Loel Guinness
Group Captain Thomas Loel Evelyn Bulkeley Guinness OBE was a British Conservative politician, Member of Parliament for Bath , business magnate and philanthropist...
bought the ship and leased it to Jacques for a dollar a year. Simone sold her family jewels for the Calypsos fuel, and her fur to buy a compass and gyroscope. (1) The Calypso set off in 1952 on her maiden voyage, to the Red Sea. Simone was the only woman on board.
Describing his wife, Jacques Cousteau said, "She was the happiest out of camera range, in the crow's nest of Calypso
Calypso (ship)
RV Calypso is a former British Royal Navy Minesweeper converted into a research vessel for the oceanographic researcher Jacques-Yves Cousteau, equipped with a mobile laboratory for underwater field research. She was severely damaged in 1996, and is undergoing a complete refurbishment in 2009-2011...
, for example, scanning the sea for whales. Nothing would get by her." He continued, "She lives to spend hour after hour in the wind and the sun, watching, thinking, trying to unravel the mystery of the sea." (2) Simone died in 1990 of cancer. She received a full military funeral, during which her ashes were scattered over the Sea of Monaco.