Maxwell Papers at the National Maritime Museum
A list of the papers of Vice-Admiral William H. Maxwell in the possession of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich.
MAX/1
Vol 1 - Private journal of Adm William Henry Maxwell, 27 Dec 1873-9 Jun 1876, written from his home, Holywych House, in Cowden, Kent. Beginning with his birth in Jun 1840, the journal covers reminiscences of Maxwell's early childhood and accounts of his career, including details of his time as a Cadet and early voyages. Significant events include a voyage to Pitcairn Island, where Maxwell met some of the Bounty mutineers' descendants, and anti-slavery voyages that he was involved in. It also records his time in HMS EXCELLENT.
MAX/2
Vol 2 - Private journal of Adm William Henry Maxwell, 13 Jun 1876-28 Aug 1877, written from his home, Holywych House, in Cowden, Kent. The volume mostly covers Maxwell's time at the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth, and also includes family trees and several pages of genealogical information about the Maxwell family at the end of the volume.
MAX/3
Vol 3 - Private journal of Adm William Henry Maxwell, 4 Sep 1877-23 Jun 1878, written from his home, Holywych House, in Cowden, Kent. Includes commentary on the contemporary international situation. Also includes, at the end of the volume, a list of ships and shore bases which Maxwell served in, Jan 1854-Nov 1872, including notes re: taking slave ships as prizes, and the freeing and landing of slaves, and a list of Maxwell's commissions from Naval Cadet, 12 Jan 1854, to Captain, 29 Nov 1872.
MAX/4
Vol 4 - Private journal of Adm William Henry Maxwell, 17 Jul 1878-15 Nov 1879. Contemporary account of Maxwell's active naval service, recording his voyage in HMS EMERALD, beginning in Plymouth Sound and ending in Apia Harbour, Samoa, Western Pacific. Maxwell travelled extensively in Polynesia and gives full descriptions of the Islands' populations, customs, economy and politics. Also includes meteorological and technical sailing information (with results of a 12 hour full speed trial conducted on Oct 1879, in the reverse).
MAX/5
Vol 5 - Private journal of Adm William Henry Maxwell, 16 Nov 1879-20 Apr 1881. Contemporary account of Maxwell's active naval service, recording his voyage in HMS EMERALD, beginning in Apia Harbour, Samoa, Western Pacific and ending in Sydney, New South Wales. Includes details of the political situation in Samoa. Also includes meteorological and technical sailing information. With lists of letters received and dispatched by Maxwell, 9 Jan 1880-24 Jul 1882, in the reverse.
MAX/6
Vol 6 - Private journal of Adm William Henry Maxwell, 20 Apr 1881-1 Jul 1882. Contemporary account of Maxwell's active naval service, recording his voyage in HMS EMERALD, beginning in Sydney, New South Wales and ending on the passage home to England, between the Falkland Islands and the Equator. Maxwell was appointed HM Deputy Commissioner for the Western Pacific and tours the Islands, giving details of their condition. Includes meteorological and technical sailing information, with a brief note on economical rates of speed, in the reverse.
MAX/7
Vol 7 - Private journal of Adm William Henry Maxwell, 1 Jul 1882-5 Jan 1885. Contemporary account of Maxwell's active naval service, recording his voyage in HMS EMERALD, 1 Jul 1882-16 Aug 1882, beginning on the passage home to Portsmouth from Australia, between the Falkland Islands and the Equator. HMS EMERALD was paid off on 23 Aug 1882. Maxwell was then writing from his home, Holywych House, in Cowden, Kent, 10 Sep 1882-22 Mar 1883. He commissioned HMS NEPTUNE, Channel Fleet, at Portsmouth, 28 Mar 1883, and sailed to Gibraltar and Ireland. He was writing again from Holywych House, 1 Sep-1 Oct 1883, and returned to HMS NEPTUNE at Portsmouth, 2 Oct 1883-5 Jan 1885. Maxwell's time aboard NEPTUNE included Fleet exercises in the Mediterranean and the Aegean. Also includes meteorological and technical sailing information.
MAX/8
Vol 8 - Private journal of Adm William Henry Maxwell, 6 Jan 1885-19 Apr 1889. Contemporary account of Maxwell's active naval service, recording his voyage in HMS NEPTUNE, Channel Squadron, on a return passage from Portsmouth to Kingstown via Cadiz, until 6 Apr 1885. Maxwell was then writing from his home, Holywych House, in Cowden, Kent, 7 Apr 1885-6 Mar 1887. He began a voyage to Hong Kong, to act as Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria as part of the Jubilee celebrations, first in SS MIRZAPORE (P&O, England to Columbo, 14-31 Mar 1887), and then in SS DECCAN (P&O, Columbo to Hong Kong, 8-19 Apr 1887). He was on board HMS VICTOR EMANUEL at Hong Kong, 20 Apr-14 May 1887, and was writing from Hong Kong itself, 14 May 1887-22 Feb 1889. On 6 Oct 1888, he records a family trip to Japan, taken 28 Aug-5 Oct 1888. Maxwell begins his return voyage to England in SS SHANNON (P&O, Hong Kong to Colombo, 27 Feb-11 Mar 1889), and then in SS KHEDIVE (P&O, Colombo to Marseilles, 17-1 Apr 1889). The journal ends with Maxwell writing again from Holywych House, 19 Apr 1889, after travelling from Marseilles, via Paris, to London by train. Includes meteorological and technical sailing information
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