Matthew Fontaine Maury, American astronomer, historian, oceanographer, meteorologist, cartographer, author, geologist, and educator.
Biographical Overview
Nicknamed “Pathfinder of the Seas” and “Father of Modern Oceanography and Naval Meteorology” and later, “Scientist of the Seas,” due to the publication of his extensive works in his books, especially The Physical Geography of the Sea (1855), Maury published the first extensive and comprehensive books on oceanography providing many important new contributions to charting winds and ocean currents, including ocean lanes for passing ships at sea.
Born in United States of America, 1806-1873 Oceanographer Father of modern oceanography and naval meteorology
Worldview
Using a biblical worldview perspective, Maury successfully applied the scientific method to investigate the laws of nature, His worldview is notable from what he said –
“The book of nature which we have to read is written by the finger of God.”
“I will, however … ask pardon for mentioning a rule of conduct which I have adopted in order to make progress with these physical researches which have occupied so much of my time … The rule is, never to forget who is the Author of the great volume which nature spreads out before us, and always to remember that the same Being is the author of the book which revelation holds up to us.”
“I have been blamed by men of science, both in this country and in England, for quoting the Bible in confirmation of the doctrines of physical geography. The Bible, they say, was not written for scientific purposes, and is therefore of no authority in matters of science. I beg pardon! The Bible is authority for everything it touches. What would you think of the historian who should refuse to consult the historical records of the Bible, because the Bible was not written for the purposes of history? The Bible is true and science is true, and therefore each, if truly read, but proves the truth of the other. The agents in the physical economy of our planet are ministers of Him who made both it and the Bible. The records which He has chosen to make through the agency of these ministers of His upon the crust of the earth are as true as the records which by the hands of His prophets and servants, He has been pleased to make in the Book of Life.”
“They are both true; and when your men of science, with vain and hasty conceit, announce the discovery of disagreement between them, rely upon it, the fault is not with the witness of His records, but with the worm who essays to interpret evidence which he does not understand.”
“I have always found in my scientific studies, that, when I could get the Bible to say anything on the subject it afforded me a firm platform to stand upon, and a round in the ladder by which I could safely ascend.
“As our knowledge of nature and her laws has increased, so has our knowledge of the many passages of the Bible.
“The Bible called the earth ‘the round world,’ yet for ages it was the most damnable heresy for Christian men to say that the world is round; and finally, sailors circumnavigated the globe, and proved the Bible to be right, and saved Christian men of science from the stake.
“And as for the general system of circulation which I have been so long endeavoring to describe, the Bible tells it all in a single sentence: ‘The wind goeth toward the South and returneth again to his circuits.”
Matthew Maury
Memorial Monument statement “His inspiration holy writ Psalms 8 and 107 verses 8 & 25 & 24 Ecclesiastes chapter 1 verse 8” with the words –
“Whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.” Psalms 8:8
