The history of 19th century exploration in Antarctica is a story of dangerous and exhilarating quests -for knowledge, for glory and for power. One of the most colourful and intriguing characters is the French explorer Jules Sébastian César Dumont d'Urville. While most Australians have never heard of him, he was France's Captain Cook.   The two voyages Dumont d'Urville commanded represented the greatest achievements by the French in maritime exploration and scientific endeavour, as well as the peak of their colonial ambition. In 1840 Dumont d'Urville was the first person to make contact with and claim a section of the Antarctic coastline. Today, Dumont d'Urville scientific station on Petrel Island off the coast of Adélie Land is a legacy to his extraordinary exploits.   Discover more about Dumont d'Urville and the dangers and difficulties he faced exploring the Antarctic in the 19th century.