Matthew Fontaine Maury, Father of Oceanography

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Focusing on his ambition to be "a useful man," Matthew Fontaine Maury made significant contributions to maritime navigation by charting sea lanes and outmaneuvering British naval strategies. He played a pivotal role in connecting the Old and New Worlds through the transatlantic cable and was a vocal advocate for Southern rights amid national tensions. His vision of Manifest Destiny spanned from the Arctic to Cape Horn, and he innovated warfare with the development of electronically detonated mines, showcasing his multifaceted influence on both society and military practices.