Author: Maxwell, William
Biography:
MAXWELL, William (1784-1857: WBIS)
The son of Helen (Calvert) and James Maxwell, born in Norfolk VA, he graduated from Yale in 1802 and then studied law. After being called to the bar in Norfolk, he embarked on a successful career as an advocate, proving to be a fine orator. From 1830 to 1832 he was a member of the state legislature, then of the state Senate until 1838. From 1838 to 1844, he was President of Hampden Sydney College in Hampden Sydney VA; while in that post, he married Mary Robertson (there is no reliable record of children). After leaving the College, he and his wife moved to Richmond, where he taught and practised law, edited the Virginia Historical Register (1848-53), and was an active member of the Colonization Society and the Bible Society. He died near Williamsburg VA and is buried in Richmond. Apart from the two editions of his poems, his major literary work was a biography of John H. Rice (1835). (DAB; Appleton) HJ