Matthew Fontaine Maury (Notable Resident — Oceanography Pioneer)

Matthew Fontaine Maury was born in Spotsylvania County in 1806. The Navy called him "Pathfinder of the Seas." He published the first reliable oceanographic charts and studied ocean currents. He taught at VMI and was involved in founding the Naval Academy at Annapolis.

A Fredericksburg school built in 1919-1920 bears his name — Colonial Revival architecture in an area bounded by George, Kenmore, William and Barton streets, designed by Philip Stern. The building opened as Fredericksburg High School in 1920, became James Monroe High School in 1937, and was renamed Matthew Fontaine Maury School in 1952, serving as the city's middle school until 1980. The stadium behind it, built in 1935, still hosts James Monroe High School home games and remains the largest public gathering place in the city. The Dog Mart — an annual event that began with a 1698 agreement between the colonial village and the Manahoac — once drew 15,000 people to that stadium each year.

The school closed in 1980. Police academy, then homeless shelter. In 2007 it became condominiums. The Central Rappahannock Heritage Center now occupies the old gym, preserving documents and photographs from Fredericksburg and four surrounding counties.