WHAT: Statue of Matthew Fontaine Maury on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Virginia.
WHERE: Monument and Belmont avenues in the intersection.
ARTIST: William F. Sievers
DEDICATION: November 11, 1929
DESCRIPTION: A seated bronze figure of Maury which is 8 foot high on a 5 foot high granite pedestal. This grouping sits in front of a 18 foot high base which supports a 9 foot diameter bronze globe. At the base of the globe a storm is raging with figures being tossed by a swirling wave. This carefully conceived allegorical theme is a tribute to Maury’s study of the ocean, winds and currents.
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Confederate naval officer and explorer Matthew Fontaine Maury was known as the “Pathfinder of the Seas.” Although he never fought a battle and was prone to seasickness, Maury became one of the U.S. Navy’s most accomplished officers.
The enigmatic nature of his statue reflects his unusual place in the pantheon of Confederate and Virginia heroes. The carefully conceived allegorical theme is a tribute to Maury’s study of the ocean, winds and currents. It was dedicated November 11, 1929, and rests in the intersection with Belmont Avenue. Maury’s grave can be found in President’s Circle at Hollywood Cemetery.
Richmond On The James 
Posted by Reflection on the Arthur Ashe Monument – Race & Racism at the University of Richmond on July 25, 2019 at 4:05 am
[…] Once I got home, I looked up the statue that we had seen and learned that it was a monument to Matthew Fontaine Maury, a Confederate naval officer. I was shocked at the statue’s imagery of tens of people struggling […]
Posted by Grace Erhart on June 21, 2020 at 9:29 am
Learn some history. The monument is not to Maury the Confederate naval officer, but to Maury the US Naval officer, who perfected charts of the tracks in the sea that vessels still use today. He worked at the Naval observatory and put these things together himself. The people struggling are not blacks perse but are those people who did not have those charts for centuries before he perfected them Were it not for Maury America’s merchant marine may well not have flourished as it did during the 19th century, and the merchant marine in those days put white sailors and black on the same footing.
Posted by Carol reitmeier on March 11, 2018 at 11:24 pm
This is helpful while watching 60 minutes coverage. Thank you. Car-71
Posted by Boz on April 18, 2017 at 9:46 pm
seen ur not even thot patrol commander smh
Posted by Crill Saltynas on April 17, 2017 at 11:38 am
oh my lort, dis is my jem bby dill
Posted by Frederick Swallow on March 6, 2016 at 4:29 pm
Good to see Matthew Maury recognised with monument and his Christian faith. I compiled a story about his achievement for New Zealand Christian Writer magazine.
F Swallow . Auckland New Zealand
Posted by Jennifer Schmidt on September 14, 2015 at 6:34 pm
We are commanded, “thou shall not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness, of anything that is on the earth or in the heavens…” We have entirely too many graven images, including of Washington, Lincoln, and the phallic symbol in Washington, D. C., and Mt Rushmore, etc. These are mere men, and “objects”. Enough already! I’m not impressed.
Posted by Walter Ring on January 28, 2014 at 12:21 pm
This man was a true genius , way ahead of his time. His accomplishments earned him the nicknames “Pathfinder of the Seas”, “Father of Modern Oceanography and Naval Meteorology” and “Scientist of the Seas.” He is the least known man whose statue is on Monument Avenue, but due to his contributions to society he should be far more famous. Hail the great Matthew Maury!!!
Posted by Robin D Maynard on July 31, 2017 at 8:46 am
Agreed. In working recently on a heritage and genealogy project, I discovered that he was a great uncle of mine and after reading his Wikipedia page, I could not be more amazed at his accomplishments – its like he lived the life of at least five great men.
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Posted by megasuert.com on February 25, 2013 at 1:26 am
After I initially left a comment I seem to have clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and
now each time a comment is added I get 4 emails with the exact same comment.
Perhaps there is a means you are able to remove me from that service?
Kudos!
Posted by seeeeeen elise on April 17, 2017 at 11:03 am
hail
Posted by Jabo Dool on April 17, 2017 at 11:05 am
raise hell and eat cornbread yee yee
Posted by seeeeeen elise on April 17, 2017 at 11:05 am
yeet yeet
Posted by seeeeeen elise on April 17, 2017 at 11:06 am
get gottie thottie
Posted by Crill Saltynas on April 17, 2017 at 11:39 am
the wall cannt cuntain meh