Matthew Fontaine Maury (January 14, 1806 – February 1, 1873) was an American astronomer, historian, oceanographer, meteorologist, cartographer, author, geologist, educator, and naval officer for the United States and then the Confederacy. He was a devout Christian and, after reading Psalm 8:8, was determined to find "the paths of the seas".
He was nicknamed "Pathfinder of the Seas" and "Father of Modern Oceanography and Naval Meteorology" and later, "Scientist of the Seas" for his extensive works in his books, especially The Physical Geography of the Sea (1855), the first such extensive and comprehensive book on oceanography to be published.
In 1825, at 19, Maury obtained, through US Representative Sam Houston, a midshipman's warrant in the United States Navy. As a midshipman on board the frigate USS Brandywine, he almost immediately began to study the seas and record methods of navigation. When a leg injury left him unfit for sea duty, Maury devoted his time to the study of navigation, meteorology, winds, and currents.
He became Superintendent of the United States Naval Observatory and head of the Depot of Charts and Instruments. There, Maury studied thousands of ships' logs and charts. He published the Wind and Current Chart of the North Atlantic, which showed sailors how to use the ocean's currents and winds to their advantage, drastically reducing the length of ocean voyages. Maury's uniform system of recording oceanographic data was adopted by navies and merchant marines around the world and was used to develop charts for all the major trade routes.
With the outbreak of the American Civil War, Maury, a Virginian, resigned his commission as a US Navy commander and joined the Confederacy. He spent the war in the South as well as an envoy of the Confederacy to Great Britain, Ireland, and France. He helped the Confederacy acquire a ship, CSS Georgia, while also trying to convince several European powers to help stop the war. Following the war, Maury was eventually pardoned and accepted a teaching position at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia.
He died at the institute in 1873, after he had completed an exhausting state-to-state lecture tour on national and international weather forecasting on land. He had also completed his book, Geological Survey of Virginia, and a new series of geography for young people.
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Some of their strengths
Matthew Fontaine Maury has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Hardworking, Independent, Loyal, Intuitive, Honest, Ambitious, and Courageous.
Smart and Hardworking
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Matthew Fontaine Maury is someone who is a smart, hardworking, reliable, and loyal person, who is detail-oriented and orderly, but also generous and optimistic. A person who sees life as a journey not a destination.
Strong and Resilient
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Matthew Fontaine Maury well know them as someone who can be strong, expansive, and stable like a big tree.
Active and Ambitious
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Matthew Fontaine Maury as someone who is active, ambitious, bold, and courageous.
A person who is driven and organized, is wise with money, who knows how to tell a good story, likes physical activity, and who loves learning.
Realistic and Skillful
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Matthew Fontaine Maury is someone who is able to separate emotions from reality, see the world in terms of right or wrong, and who is very good at getting things done.
They are also someone who is calm, comforting, and stable, and who loves stability and being a good friend and loyal partner.
Patient and Perseverent
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Matthew Fontaine Maury tends to be someone who is patient, faithful, hardworking and persistent, and who wants to achieve a lot in life. Who tends to be rather private when it comes to expressing feelings, enjoys being independent and self-sufficient, and who is not afraid of any obstacle.
Some of Matthew Fontaine Maury's challenges
While Matthew Fontaine Maury has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Matthew Fontaine Maury can be Stubborn, Suspicious, Complicated, Brusque, Idle, Impulsive, and Aggressive.
Suspicious and Stubborn
One of Matthew Fontaine Maury's key challenges is that they are someone who can be suspicious and stubborn.
Matthew Fontaine Maury must also exercise caution as they can be short-tempered and aggressive, and can have difficulty dealing with responsibility, authority, or criticism.
Impulsive and Aggressive
Matthew Fontaine Maury is someone who can be impulsive, aggressive, and confrontational, can have difficulty listening to others, be moody and high strung, have conflict with authority figures, be too judgmental of others, and who can be overindulgent and extravagant.
Callous and Stubborn
Finally, Matthew Fontaine Maury also can come across as cold and unemotional, be too dismissive of others' opinions, and be overly suspicious, selfish and crafty.
