Hiram Maxim | |
|---|---|
 Maxim c. 1916 | |
| Born | Hiram Stevens Maxim 5 February 1840 Sangerville, Maine, U.S. |
| Died | 24 November 1916 (aged 76) Streatham, London |
| Resting place | West Norwood Cemetery 51°26′01″N 0°06′11″W / 51.43354°N 0.10314°W |
| Occupation | Inventor |
| Known for | Inventor of Maxim gun Claimed inventor of lightbulb |
| Spouse(s) | Jane Budden (1867–1881?) Sarah Haynes (1881–1916, his death) |
| Children | Hiram Percy Maxim Florence Maxim Cutter Adelaide Maxim Joubert |
| Relatives | Hudson Maxim (brother) |
Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim (5 February 1840 – 24 November 1916) was an American-born British inventor best known as the creator of the first automatic machine gun, the Maxim gun.[1] Maxim held patents on numerous mechanical devices such as hair-curling irons, a mousetrap, and steam pumps. Maxim laid claim to inventing the lightbulb.[2][3]
Maxim experimented with powered flight; his large aircraft designs were never successful. Circa 1904 he designed a highly successful amusement ride called the "Captive Flying Machine" to fund his research while generating public interest in flight.[4][5]
Maxim moved from the United States to the United Kingdom at the age of 41, and remained an American citizen until he became a naturalised British citizen in 1899, and received a knighthood in 1901.[6][7]
- ^ Great Inventors and Inventions. Courier Dover Publications. 10 July 1997. ISBN 9780486297842.
- ^ They All Laughed...: From Light Bulbs to Lasers: The Fascinating Stories. HarperCollins. 30 June 1993. p. 11. ISBN 9780060924157.
Hiram Maxim and light bulb.
- ^ Bull, Stephen (2004). Encyclopedia of military technology and innovation. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9781573565578.
- ^ Brady, Tim (2000). The American aviation experience: a history. SIU Press. ISBN 9780809323715.
- ^ The playful crowd: pleasure places in the twentieth century. Columbia University Press. 2005. p. 45. ISBN 9780231127240.
Captive Flying Machine.
- ^ Sir Hiram Maxim. Encyclopædia Britannica.
- ^ Who's who in World War One. Psychology Press. 1 June 2002. ISBN 9780203438817.