American geologist

Harry Hammond Hess spent much of his career studying what the ocean floor was made of and where it came from. He was a renowned geologist whose interests and influence ranged from oceanography to space science. One of Hess's most important contributions to science was the concept of seafloor spreading, which became a cornerstone in the acceptance of the continental drift theory during the 1960s. As an officer in the United States Naval Reserve, he was able to combine military service with scientific investigation; in his later years, he became an important figure in NASA, helping direct the science of lunar exploration.

Hess was born in New York City to Julian S. Hess, a member of the New York Stock Exchange, and Elizabeth Engel Hess. He attended Asbury Park High School in New Jersey before entering Yale University in 1923. At...