Background
William Maxwell was born on February 27, 1784 in Norfolk, Virginia. He was the son of James and Helen (Calvert) Maxwell, natives of Scotland. The father was "general superintendent" of the Virginia fleet.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
book
An Oration Commemorative of the Late REV. John Holt Rice, D. D., Spoken Before the Literary and Philosophical Society of Hampden Sydney College, at ... on Thursday 27th of September, A. D. 1832
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
https://www.amazon.com/Commemorative-Literary-Philosophical-Thursday-September/dp/1373189061?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1373189061
A Memoir of the REV. John H. Rice, D. D., First Professor of Christian Theology in Union Theological Seminary, Virginia
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
https://www.amazon.com/Professor-Christian-Theology-Theological-Seminary/dp/1372923780?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1372923780
William Maxwell
Edit ProfileEducation
William prepared for college chiefly under the tutorship of Rev. Israel B. Woodward of Wolcott, Connecticut, and graduated from Yale in 1802 at the age of eighteen. He studied law in Richmond, Va. , and in 1808 was admitted to practice at the Norfolk bar.
Career
Having literary tendencies, he published in 1812 a small volume entitled Poems. Although attributed to Maxwell, Letters from Virginia, a translation from the French issued anonymously in 1816, was probably the work of George Tucker. In 1827 Maxwell was elected editor of the New York Journal of Commerce, but he retained his home in Norfolk, and held the position for only about a year. In 1828 he presented to his native town a lyceum for lectures and scientific experiments. From 1830 to 1832 he was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Elected to the state Senate for an unexpired term, he was returned for the following term, serving in all from 1832 to 1838. During this period, 1835, he published his most ambitious library work, A Memoir of Rev. John H. Rice, D. D. , valuable not only as a biography but also as a sidelight on Presbyterian history. Upon his resignation he removed to Richmond where he practised and taught law. He was an active member of the Virginia Colonization Society and of the Virginia Bible Society. With others he reestablished the Virginia Historical Society, and from 1848 to 1853 was editor of the Virginia Historical Register. Of his many addresses, only one was published, An Oration on the Improvement of the People, a plea for better education in Virginia, delivered at the anniversary of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Hampden-Sidney, September 1826. He died near Williamsburg, Va. , and was buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond.
Achievements
-
Maxwell is known as the seventh President of Hampden–Sydney College from 1838 to 1844. In 1836 Hampden-Sidney College conferred on him the degree of LL. D. , the third it had awarded in a period of more than sixty years. He was at the same time elected a trustee and in 1838, president of the college, a position which he held until 1844. While president he married Mary Robertson. An unpublished manuscript of his, now in the Virginia State Library, Richmond, "My Mother's Memoirs, " which records events of Revolutionary days, is of historical value.
Works
book
-
An Oration Commemorative of the Late REV. John Holt Rice, D. D., Spoken Before the Literary and Philosophical Society of Hampden Sydney College, at ... on Thursday 27th of September, A. D. 1832
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
-
A Memoir of the REV. John H. Rice, D. D., First Professor of Christian Theology in Union Theological Seminary, Virginia
( This work has been selected by scholars as being cultur...)
-
An Oration Commemorative of the Late REV. John Holt Rice, D. D., Spoken Before the Literary and Philosophical Society of Hampden Sydney College, at ... on Thursday 27th of September, A. D. 1832
Membership
a member of the Virginia Colonization Society, a member of the Virginia Bible Society
Personality
His brilliant talents soon gave him a leading position among the attorneys of Virginia and a reputation beyond the borders of the state. He was noted also for his keen wit and oratorical abilities. His readiness was remarkable; his addresses were never written; and if he was "knocked up at midnight and requested to speak, he would make a finer speech than anyone else could have done after deliberate preparation".
Connections
In April, 1839, Maxwell married Mary F. Robertson, daughter of Robert Robertson and sister of Colonel Harrison Robertson of Charlottesville, Va.
References
-
Born
-
Died
January 10, 1857 (aged 72) -
Resting place
Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia, United States -
Nationality
American