1924-1977

American oceanographer and geologist who in 1956 discovered the Mid-Oceanic Ridge. Part of this global system of sub-sea volcanoes had been discovered by oceanographic expeditions in the nineteenth century, but it was not known to be global in extent until Heezen's landmark work. His discovery helped set the stage for subsequent research that gave rise to the modern theory of plate tectonics, in which the Mid-Oceanic Ridge plays a crucial role.