Compiled by William Maury Morris II 1996.
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SOME CORRESPONDENCE AND HONORS CONFERRED UPON MATTHEW FONTAINE MAURY
The Emperor of Russia made Maury "Knight of the Order of St. Ann".
The King of Denmark made him "Knight of the Dannebrog". "Order of Dannebrog, an ancient Danish order of knighthood."
The King of Portugal, "Knight of the Tower and Sword".
The King of Belgium, "Knight of the Order of St. Leopold".
The Emperor of France, "Commander of the Legion of Honour".
Prussia, Austria, Sweden, Holland, Sardinia, Bremen, and France struck gold medals in his honor.
The Pope sent a complete set of all the medals which had been struck during his pontificate as a mark of his appreciation of Maury's services in the cause of science.
To these was added the decoration of "Our Lady of Guadeloupe," presented by Maximilian.
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Maury's services were also recognised by numerous learned Societies, both at home and abroad.
He became Corresponding Member of the "Naturudige Vereenigin in Nederladsch Indie." Batavia, 17th Feb., 1853.
Member of "Die Naturforschende Gesellschaft in Emden." Emden, March 22nd, 1854.
Member of the "Societe des Sciences, des Arts at des Lettres de Hainault." Mons, Belgium. Dec. 7th, 1854.
Member of the "Academie Imperiale des Sciences de Russie." St. Petersburg, Dec. 29th, 1855.
Member of the "Academie Royale des Sciences, des Lettres et des Beaux- Arts de Belgique." Brussels, Dec. 17th, 1854.
Corresponding Member of the "New York Lyceum of Natural History." New York, June 18th, 1865.
Correspondent of the "Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences." Philadelphia, Feb. 22nd, 1858.
Member of "Die Gesellschaft zur Beforderung der Gesammten Naturwissenschaften in Marbur." Marburg, Feb. 13th, 1856.
Member of the "Historical Society of New Jersey." Trenton, May 17th, 1856.
Member of the "Historical Society of Tennessee." Nashville, Sept. 3rd, 1857.
Member of "Die Gesellschaft fur Erdkunde in Berlin." Berlin, April 18th, 1858.
Member of the Bohemian Royal "Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften." Prague, January 13th, 1858.
Director "del Observatoria Nacional." Mexico, 1865.
"Imperial Commissioner of Immigration." Mexico 1865
"Consejero Honorario de Estado." Mexico, 1865.
"Miembro honorario de la Sociedad Mexicana de Geografia y Estadistica." Mexico, 1865.
LL.D. of the University of Cambridge. England, 1867.
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Some of the letters are inserted here that accompanied these honors from the different sovereigns of Europe.
These begin with the letter from Baron Von Humboldt, presenting the GREAT GOLD MEDAL OF SCIENCE FROM THE KING OF PRUSSIA, AND ALSO THE COSMOS MEDAL.
My Dear and Illustrious Friend, Berlin, Feburary 3rd, 1855
It is now a great many years since you have been so kind as to enrich with your generous contributions the most important institutions -- the Admiralty, the Academy, the School of Navigation, and Libraries -- of my country. Your immense labours on currents and soundings, and the direction of winds at different seasons and latitudes, have exercised the most beneficial influence on the commerce of nations, by shortening in a surprising manner the passages by sea, and augmenting the security of navigation in all seas. The result has been the opening of new paths to navigators who have been penetrated by the correctness of your views, and an increase of the facilities previously derived from the application of steam.
My Sovereign, the King of Prussia, sensible of the eminent merit of your laborious undertaking, and interested by the noble efforts now making by the Government of the U. S. for the advancement of the sciences which are so closely allied with the development of the common prosperity, desires to give to you, Lieutenant Maury, Superintendent of the National Observatory at Washington, a mark of his gratitude, by presenting him, through the hands of our Minister, M. de Gerolt, with the medal designed as a reward for distinguished works of science.
Sensible also of the affection with which you have honoured me for so long a period, the King has deemed that he would be doing you a further pleasure by adding another medal -- that which his Majesty had struck for me upon the publication of "Cosmos." I pray you to accept, my dear friend, the renewed assurance of my highest and most affectionate consideration.
Your very humble and most devoted servant, Baron Alexander von Humboldt
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Accompanying the medal struck in Maury's honor, came the following letter from the Republic of Bremen