Jacques Cousteau was born on June 11, 1910 in France. The man who would become a world-famous French naval officer and an even more famous underwater explorer learned how to swim in Vermont.

In 1920, Cousteau’s family moved to New York. That summer Cousteau’s family began summering at Harvey’s Lake in West Barnet. Cousteau began learning swim strokes and diving techniques in this small, freshwater lake.

Cousteau became a pioneer of marine conservation and invented the aqua-lung. Millions of Americans know Jacques Cousteau from his “Undersea World” films and television specials.

The Vermont Book Of Days photo.