Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1873-02-19
pe.th- % pros. Maurv.

Matthew foAtaine Mnurv, whose
death occurred ~ LexiMgtonS Va,
on tho lst hist, was born hi Spott.
sylvania, VA, January 18th, 1906.
Ills parents removed 10 Tennessee
when lG was only three or four
years old, and being in moderate
pecaHinry circumstances wtre able
to aif0rh their niue children but All
ordinary education. The subject oi
this sketch Improved his limited all.
santagrs to The utmost, andI procnr.
Ing n midshipman's warrant In 1925,
jotncd the trixutc isrtatlywinc. then
fttted out To convey Lafayette Ia
France. lie rrturneI to thu United
States the following year IN the same
vessel, snon attcrward saiislin f.ct
to the Pacific where he joined the
sloop Ntncehncs antt circuMnavigat-
al the globe the voyage fasting
about four years. Passing Tho re-
q0isitc examination hn was again or
tered 10 tho Pacific us master of the
Falmouth, which ship he icfteto join
the frigate Potomac. Ills famous
work OH navigation was begun while
on board tho viheennes, aui nearly
completed during his service on the
Potomac. On his return home he
! was commissioned lieutenant aud APP
pointed astronomer Of the South Sea
exploring cxpcditi6M, uR,ler coin-
! maud Oft. AicAtcsby Jslncs.. When
| the latter officer retired ftom this eX-
! petition, Maury also Withdrew and
was put in charsc "i the depot Of
charts aud instruments, which was
subsequently, merged into the Nation-
nj Observatoryand photograph, office
(which he was made superintendent.
His interchangeable iabors in organizing
the observatory ami pushing those i'll
vcstigatiOns which led 10 the drvr.-
-upmcnt and elaboration of his thc"-
ry in regard TO Winds aud currents.
are too well known to nce't conf
mcn, here. In 1854 he visited Eng
land, aud attracted much attention
IRON the scicutiiic mel there by his
views in regard to navigation, which
were afterwards presented in II book
entitled the physical Geography of
tho Sea-" illustrated with charts
and diagrams. This book-whicl,
has done almost us much for those
who traverse the ocean rs tho tliscuv-
cry of the mariners compass-has
been translated into several different
languages aud is o recognized
authority among all nations engaged
in MARITIME pursuits. The King OF
Prussia presented him with a gold
medal specially designed for him.
and also one of the medal, struck in
lioma- Of the publication of lium-
bolts Cosmos" the emperor of
Austria gave him tho large gold
medal of Arts aud Sciences. and hcy
received a number of other tcstimo- !
~. IL from various foreign govern
mrnts. At the breaking u of the
Capt. Maury resigned his
position ut Washington aud cSpousrd !
the confederate cause, which he al
vocatcd with small SUCCESS in Eng
and France. After the conclu-
sion of the war hr,acceptcd 4 protcs-
in Il Southern Institution of
learning, ami occupied his time
in the prepar ,tion Of gcogra-
pbical teXt-bnoks for schools. some
volumes of which have already been ,
published.
Few men in II age or country
have done more for practical science
than has Prof. Maury, and his de-
cease will awaken profound regret.
not only in the land whose fame lie !
elevated in the eyes of the civilized
world. but on every sea whitehead by
the sails at commerce. aud on every !
shore which the fruits of that COLL
enrich anti adorn.