Jump To Section:
The Maxwells are a talented and accomplished bunch. From science, to literature, to show-biz, they have achieved some amazing things!
Meet the Famous Maxwells
James Clerk Maxwell
James Clerk Maxwell is a giant of the science world, popularly considered one of the most important scientists of the 19th century due to his ground-breaking formulation of the electro-magnetic theory. Even Albert Einstein was among his admirers, saying ‘one scientific epoch ended, and another began with James Clerk Maxwell'.
Born in Edinburgh in 1831, Maxwell’s academic abilities were clear from an early age, and he published his first paper at just 14. He enrolled at the University of Edinburgh in 1847, before transferring to Cambridge University in 1850, where he excelled, winning several prizes. He graduated in 1854 and was awarded a Trinity College fellowship. This allowed him to begin researching color and magnetism, publishing well-received papers on both.
In 1855, Maxwell was appointed as Professor of Natural Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen’s Marischal College. While at Aberdeen, he started researching Saturn’s rings, winning the Adams Prize of 1857 for his theory on the composition of the rings. This theory was proved correct a century later!
In 1860, he accepted a new job at King’s College London, where he applied his studies of color vision and optics to photography, producing the world’s first ever color photograph in 1861. The photograph showed a tartan ribbon, a fitting tribute to his heritage!
However, while this was undeniably an exciting development in science, Maxwell is most celebrated and remembered for his electromagnetic theory, which many claim fundamentally changed the course of physics.
With his work, Maxwell showed that electricity and magnetism create waves of electromagnetic energy. This greatly influenced his peers and helped lead to Einstein’s theory of relativity and Max Planck’s quantum theory.
Maxwell resigned from King’s College in 1865 and returned home to Scotland, living on his family’s estate in Glenlair. He stayed active in scientific circles, being appointed the first Cavendish Professor of Physics in 1871, overseeing the foundation of the Cavendish Laboratory and editing Henry Cavendish’s papers. He passed away on the 5th of November 1879 and was laid to rest at Parton Kirk in Galloway.
A few years later in 1882, his close friend Professor Lewis Campbell published the extended biography ‘The Life of James Clerk Maxwell,’ and his complete collected works were published in 2 volumes by the Cambridge University Press in 1890.
His scientific legacy cannot be understated. He is often rated as one of the greatest physicists of all time, a true testament to Clan Maxwell’s fearsome intelligence!
Gavin Maxwell
Our next famous Maxwell for today was an environmentalist who is remembered for his passionate love of wildlife, nature, and the Scottish landscape, as well as his wildly popular literary works.
Gavin Maxwell was born on the 15th of July 1914 in Wigtownshire, Scotland, now Dumfries and Galloway. He developed a love for nature as a young child, writing nature notes from the age of 5 and caring for a cherished collection of pet birds, including a jackdaw, a heron, and an owl. He went on to study estate management at Hertford College, Oxford, though spent much of his time pursuing sports rather than his studies.
In 1938, he went on his first natural history expedition, travelling to northern Norway to study the migration and breeding patterns of a small Arctic Sea duck.
His environmental career was then halted for a while due to the Second World War, during which he served as part of the Special Operations Executive.
After the war, Maxwell bought the Hebridean island of Soay, where he attempted to open a commercial basking shark fishing business. This did not end up being successful, but it did inspire his first book, ‘Harpoon at a Venture,’ which was published in 1952. This was well reviewed and led to him signing with prestigious literary agent, Peter Janson-Smith, who also represented James Bond author, Ian Fleming!
Maxwell’s most celebrated book was published in 1960. ‘Ring of Bright Water’ is an autobiographical telling of his life in an off the grid cottage in Sandaig, where he had several pet otters. The book sold over 2 million copies and was made into a film in 1969.
Following the book’s success, Maxwell wrote two sequels that focused on the difficulties of maintaining his otter sanctuary. He also published ‘The House of Elrig’ in 1965, which reminisced on his childhood spent among the Scottish countryside.
Today, his legacy lives on, and he is seen as one of the most iconic figures in nature writing. He is admired for the way he combined scientific observation with poetic and touching prose on the bond between people, animals, and the land. Much like early Clan Maxwell members, he clearly felt a deep connection to his territory!
Stella Maynes Maxwell
Our final Maxwell today is someone you may be familiar with if you are a fan of fashion!
Stella Maynes Maxwell was born on the 15th of May 1990 in Brussels to Northern Irish parents. She lived in Brussels until the age of 13, when the family moved to Australia for a year, before then moving again, this time to New Zealand.
She was a good student and won a place to study at the University of Otago, where she got a job at a newsstand which would go on to change her life. One day while at the stand, she was scouted by a modelling agency and quickly launched a starry career.
She walked in the iconic Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in 2014 and was named an official ‘Angel’ in 2015. She also worked with numerous other prestigious brands, including Alexander McQueen, Karl Lagerfeld, Roberto Cavalli, Asos, H&M, and Top Shop.
She has also appeared on the cover of Vogue in Germany, Turkey, Spain, Thailand, and Japan, and walked on catwalks for Jeremy Scott, Marc Jacobs, Tommy Hilfiger, Moschino, Brandon Maxwell, Dolce and Gabbana, Fendi, Chanel, Miu Miu, Versace, and more!
Maxwell also worked on her own business ventures, collaborating with French brand, The Kooples, to create a highly sought-after handbag.
While Maxwell made her name in the exclusive sphere of high fashion, she is admired for her dedication to giving back. In 2020, she became an official ambassador for Pride Live’s Stonewall Day events, using her name and influence to help others.
We have had a great time exploring Clan Maxwell’s impressive and varied talents, and we hope you have too! If you are lucky enough to have Maxwell heritage, you should feel both proud of and inspired by your gifted peers!
If you would like to learn more about the mighty Clan Maxwell, head to our Clan Maxwell page for an overview of their fascinating history and please be sure to keep an eye out for all our upcoming Maxwell content over the rest of this month.
Image Sources:
James Clerk Maxwell - Public Domain
Gavin Maxwell by not known - Original publication: not known Immediate source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/13/the-basking-shark-returns-british-waters, Fair use
Stella Maxwell, model, at 82nd Venice International Film Festival in Venice, Italy by LucaFazPhoto - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
