Matthew Fontaine Maury Statue
Richmond, Va.
Who is Matthew Fontaine Maury?
Known as the Pathfinder of the Seas
Father of Modern Oceanography- wrote first books on the subject
Commander of the Confederate Navy
Developed the electric torpedo and was assigned to Europes as part of the Confederate Secret Service
Had many accomplishments in oceanography, meteorology and navigation
Statue Stats-
- The statue was made by William F. Seavers
- Dedicated November 11, 1929
- Located at the intersection of North Belmont and Monument Avenue
Statue Description and Symbolism
Description-
Giant globe in the background
Maury seated in a chair
Surrounding the earth are people and animals struggling in the midst of a storm
Symbolism-
- Animals from the ground, water and air are engraved on his chair to represent his accomplishments in navigation, oceanography and meteorology
- The globe represents his accomplishments in many aspects of nature
What the Monument Tells About History-
This monument tells you that although Maury is not as well-known as other Confederate war heroes today, in the early 1900s, he was a very respected and popular figure. This respect is demonstrated by Maury’s position sitting on a throne in a position similar to a king or other respected leader.