Maury, MAWR ee, Matthew Fontaine (1806-1873), was a United States naval officer and scientist who did much to improve ocean travel. He has been called the Pathfinder of the Seas. Maury spent years collecting information on winds and currents. His Wind and Current Charts formed the basis for all pilot charts issued by the U.S. government. His Explanations and Sailing Directions, which accompanied the charts, enabled ship operators to save time and money on voyages. Maury's Physical Geography of the Sea and Its Meteorology was the first textbook of modern oceanography. In the 1850's, Maury helped lay a transatlantic telegraph cable.