Matthew Fontaine Maury

“ In Lexington at the Virginia Military Institute there is a Maury-Brooke Hall in which the physical sciences are taught. In Richmond, the house in which he invented the electric mine has been marked, and in South Richmond a street, a cemetery, and an elementary school all bear his name. Norfolk has a Matthew Fontaine Maury High School; while Fredericksburg has its Maury Hotel, and has marked the house where he resided for several years. In Goshen Pass, a tablet in Maury’s honor was unveiled on June 9, 1923. ”

“ Maury—a Master Genius Matthew Fontaine Maury
Of all the famous men who went from Fredericksburg to take large parts in the rapidly moving history of America, or in the work of the world, Commodore Maury added most to the progress of science. Not only did he create knowledge, but he created wealth by the immense saving he effected to shipping by charting shorter ocean routes. He is buried in Hollywood Cemetery, in Richmond, under a simple shaft which bears the name, “Matthew Fontaine Maury.” ”

“ THEODORE MAURY [a French scientist who worked in the same fields as MFM]
LIVING WITH HIS SON “BRAVE” [Matthew Fontaine Maury Jr.]
The following is an extract from a letter to the Rev. F. W. Tremlett, D.C.L., incumbent of St. Peter’s, Belsize Park, N.W., written while Maury was a Bowdon, England, where he resided at this time to be near his son “Brave”, who was at school there:
“My quiet life here is like the pleasant visions of the night. ”

“ Matthew Fontaine Maury, the son of Richard Maury, of Huguenot descent, was born on the 14th of January, 1806, in Spottsylvania County, Virginia. In his fourth year his father emigrated to Tennessee, establishing himself near Franklin, a village in the vicinity of Nashville. In his sixteenth year, young Maury entered Harpeth Academy, then under the charge of the Rev. James H. Otey, afterwards Bishop of Tennessee.
In 1825 he was appointed Midshipman in the Navy of the United States, making his first cruize in the frigate Brandywine, on the coast of Europe, and in the Mediterranean. ”

“ In 1825, the Honorable Sam Houston, then a member of Congress for Tennessee, obtained for Matthew Fontaine Maury, a midshipman's warrant in the United States Navy. But Matthew Maury's father did not approve of the midshipman's warrent and the perils of the sea for another son, and, while he did not positively forbid the boy's acceptance of it, he refused to give him one cent towards defraying the expenses of the journey East, and even denied him a parting blessing. ”

“ He wrote or composed and dictated his greatest books in his parlour, surrounded by his family, and it seemed sometimes as if he possessed a dual consciousness, so quickly could he abstract or concentrate his mind upon his writing.
Like few great men, he was the greater the closer one got to him. Little children approached him confidingly, and never left him without bearing away some good lesson, so gently and simply taught as to before ever planted in their young minds. His especial pleasure was to say a kind word and lend a helping hand to young men beginning the battle of life. ”

“ In Maury’s enthusiastic pursuit of this favorite plan of crop and weather forecasts for the farmers, and by an extended and exhausting lecturing tour once more to urge this subject upon the farmers, in the autumn of 1872, Matthew Fontaine Maury overtaxed his strength and brought on the return of an old disorder (gout in the stomach) , from which he never rallied. ”

“ So, we also begin to have a home-feeling. People are very kind, the country is beautiful, the views and the scenery lovely, and both climate and air such that exercise is enjoyment. How I wish I had you and Miss Louisa here with us! Nannie and her two children are now on their way to us — by sea — from New York. Dick (eldest son, Colonel Richard Launcelot Maury) has gone to West Virginia. Brave (youngest son, Matthew Fontaine Maury Jr,) is polishing (being educated) off at the Institute.
The seat of Empire is fast settling down in the North-West States. ”

“ Maury, Matthew Fontaine, Junior (“Brave”) , 141, 167–169, 171, 185, 186, 203, 215, 222, 236, 241. Maury, Mytton, 222. Maury, Reuben, 8. Maury, Richard (father of Matthew Fontaine Maury) , 2. Maury, Richard (brother to Matthew Fontaine Maury) , 8. Maury, Richard Launcelot, 132, 141, 147, 167, 187, 196, 198, 201, 210, 239. Maury, Robert H., 149. Maury, Rutson, 147, 215, 224, 231. Maury, Thompson B., 236. Maury, William L., 108, 153, 171, 172. Maximilian, Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria, and Emperor of Mexico, 128, 177, 189–191, 193, 195–204, 212, 213, 215. ”

“ Tentative Model of the Maury Monument
Soon to be erected in Richmond, Virginia. The monument will be 28 feet high; diameter of globe, 9 feet; height of Maury, 7 feet (11⁄2 life size) ; figures of group, life size. Through the efforts of the Matthew Fontaine Maury Association a sum of over $60,000 was raised for this beautiful memorial. Sculptor F. William Sievers. See page 251.
1 CHAPTER I
His Early Years
No other great American has ever received so many honors abroad and so little recognition at home as has the oceanographer, Matthew Fontaine Maury. ”

“ Her mother was Elizabeth Hull, of Spottsylvania Co., Virginia. Nine years afterwards, Matthew Fontaine Maury married Miss Ann Hull Herndon (in 1834) from that same house.
In the year 1825, the United States Government had not yet established a naval academy, and the young cadets commenced at once the active duties of their profession. The narrow quarters and crowded steerage, as well as the other discomforts of a man-of-war ship, were as can easily be imagined, little conducive to study. ”

“ Maury and her family at Liverpool — Letters from Mexico to his wife and children — An imperial dinner — Keeping house — Description of the journey from Mexico to the coast — Maury’s reply to the Emperor’s intimation that the immigration department was abolished — M. F. Maury’s introduction of the Chinchona cultivation into Mexico — Causes which led to the fall of the empire — Desertion of the French — Death of the Emperor — Maximillian’s tomb at Vienna — Melancholy fate of the Empress and her last letter to Matthew Fontaine Maury. ”

“ Every feature and lineament of his bright countenance bespoke intellect, kindliness, and force of character. His fine blue eyes beamed from under his broad forehead with thought and emotion, while his flexible mouth smiled with the pleasure of imparting to others the ideas which were ever welling up in his active brain. In early manhood his head was well covered with fine soft, wavy brown hair which became thin before he reached middle age. Latterly, he was quite bald, as is shown in Valentine’s fine bust, taken when Maury was sixty years of age. ”

“ Maury's book favorably reviewed by Edgar Allan Poe, editor of The Southern Messenger.
1837-Mar.18...Attached to the Macedonian again. Jun.25...Annie Fontaine Maury ("Nannie Curly") born in Fredericksburg. Sept.....Appointed astronomer of South Sea expedition.
1838-Spring...Resigns from South Sea expedition.
Mar.29...Catherine Ann Maury, sister of Matthew Fontaine Maury, dies.
Summer. Publishes five articles in the Richmond Whig; under pen name, "Harry Bluff."
Dec..... Publishes seven more articles in the Whig; using pen names; "Will Watch to Harry Bluff." Advocating a naval academy. ”

“ Of Maury's private character it is scarcely possible to speak in terms of too high eulogy. His unimpeachable integrity and strict sense of honour shed a halo of content over his whole life. He tried, through life, never to do anything of which his conscience disapproved, and he studied, even in minutest matters, exactitude and moderation. His general knowledge was very extensive, and in his own special science he excelled all other men. ”

“ It says that "the Messenger ought to be considered as still an experiment" and appeals for more of "that powerful metallic spring, which puts all human machinery into motion." Then, as early as page two, is the advent of the renowned Matthew Fontaine Maury, a second lieutenant in the U. S. Navy and only 33 years of age; but he grew and attained until he became about the most complete and best rounded of our great men. A special map was engraved to make more effective his great "Scheme for Re-building Southern Commerce." ”

“ BIOGRAPHICAL CHRONOLOGY 1994 BY WILLIAM MAURY MORRIS II.
Incidents in the Life of Matthew Fontaine Maury — American Scientist— Founder of Modern Oceanography — nicknamed "Pathfinder of the Seas"
(1st Draft March 14, 1994) by William Maury Morris, Virginia [[email protected]]
Commander Matthew Fontaine Maury 1806— Janurary 14— Born in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. ”

“ Matthew Fontaine Maury’s arrival in England — Meeting with his family — The Maury Testimonial — Instructing French officers in defensive sea-mining at Paris — Matthew F. Maury’s Electrical Torpedo School — Defence of Wurtemberg by electrical mines — M F Maury’s memorandum on the use of electrical torpedoes — Writing class-books on geography — Visits to Nottingham and to Wrottesley Hall — Arrival of his daughter, Mrs. ”

“ Rutson Maury of New York: Fredericksburg, Virginia, August 31st, 1840
Dear Rutson,
My panacea, for ennui is the pen. There is no time hardly, when I enjoy more refined pleasures than when, deprived of companions, I dip into the ink-stand for friends that are far away. Therefore, I seldom or never feel lonesome. But, I account for the fact rather from an accident of education, than from any peculiarity of natural disposition.
When I became old enough to reflect, it was the aim at which all my energies were directed to make myself a useful man. ”

“ In the meantime, my appointment in the navy came. I went home, and the first intelligence my parents had of my intentions was this letter of appointment. It disturbed the family very much, and my father expressed his disapprobation of my conduct in strong terms. As I had proceeded without consulting him, he determined to leave me to my own resources. I was resolute. I bought a horse, and got the man to trust me until I could remit him the money after selling the horse in Virginia. ”

“ But for the atmosphere, sunshine would burst on us in a moment and fail us in the twinkling of an eye, removing us in an instant from midnight darkness to the blaze of noon. We should have no twilight to soften and beautify the landscape, no clouds to shade us from the scorching heat ”

“ The crew of such a vessel is not very permanent as to its personnel, therefore he felt at a loss, for there was still a man wanting for Black — the boatswain’s boat. A sailor, perceiving the Captain’s dilemma, stepped up and modestly offered to go.
He had not, it may be supposed, been long in the ship, for Herndon evidently did not know him well, and replied, in his mild and gentle way, “I wonder if I can trust you?”
The sailor instinctively understood this call for a shibboleth, and simply said, “I have hands that are hard to row, and a heart that is soft to feel.” This was enough. ”

“ But fortunately for Maury nothing could be found prejudicial against his character and his record in the files of the Navy Department, and he exulted over the fact that he had never tripped in his youth. He became disgusted with all the accusations and insinuations that had been aroused, and declared that they were heart-sickening to a man who loved to live at peace with all the world. ”

“ Immediately after Maury’s death there was a veritable flood of eulogies of the character and services of the great scientist. They were by no means confined to the colleges, legislators, and newspapers of Virginia; but the scientific journals throughout the world made known in unmistakable terms the high estimation in which he was held. For example, the British journal Nature of March 20, 1873, declared that Maury was the first to show how meteorology could be raised to the dignity of a science, and that he was essentially a practical man in the highest sense of the term. ”

“ And yonder, farther still, away to the south, float the Magellanic clouds, and the "Coal Sacks"—those mysterious, dark spots in the sky, which seem as though it had been rent, and these were holes in the "azure robe of night," looking out in the starless, empty, black abyss beyond. One who has never watched the southern sky in the stillness of the night, after the sea breeze with its turmoil is done, can have no idea of its grandeur, beauty, and loveliness. ”

“ If I can find here a home for my people, assist to build up a good and stable Government — of which there are reasonable grounds of hope — and surround myself by my family and friends, surely goodness and mercy will have guided me all my days, and my cup will run over. Now, compare this prospect with the plan that Rutson Maury, in his good heart and clear head, had charted out for me. He urged my stay in England, and that I must wait till I would be allowed to return to the United States. ”

“ When the slender keel glides quickly over the mirrored waters upon the wings of the wind, it cuts for itself a sparkling way, and disturbs in their sleep the monsters of the deep, which whirl and dart quicker than an eight-knot ship ”

“ There had always been a jealousy between the army and navy, and there was particular jealousy because of the prominence of Maury, in being so constantly noticed by the eminent and titled men of the Old World. Some articles (not emanating from Meade—he was too good and too noble a nature to do such things) called in question the necessity of Maury's doing anything of the kind, as Captain Meade had provided for a full working of all observations needed, to begin with the opening of navigation, and to extend all over the lakes. ”