Herbert Maxwell

Sir Herbert Eustace Maxwell, 7th Baronet, (8 January 1845 – 30 October 1937) was a Scottish novelist, essayist, artist, antiquarian, horticulturalist, prominent salmon angler and author of books on angling and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1880 to 1906.

Early life

A member of Clan Maxwell descended from the first Lord Maxwell of Caerlaverock Castle, Maxwell was the eldest surviving son of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir William Maxwell, 6th Baronet and his wife, Helenora Shaw-Stewart, daughter of Sir Michael Shaw-Stewart, 5th Baronet. He was educated at Eton and at Christ Church, Oxford. He was a captain in the 4th battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers and a J.P. and Deputy Lieutenant for Wigtownshire.

Political career

Maxwell was elected Member of Parliament for Wigtownshire in the 1880 general election and held the seat until 1906. He served in the Conservative administration of Lord Salisbury as a Junior Lord of the Treasury from 1886 to 1892 and was admitted to the Privy Council in 1897. By April 1897, Maxwell held the chair of the Royal Commission on Tuberculosis.

He was Lord Lieutenant of Wigtown from 1903 to 1935. He was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1933. He received an honorary doctorate (LL.D) from the University of Glasgow in June 1901.

Antiquarian interests

Maxwell was President of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland (1900–1913), and Chairman of the National Library of Scotland (1925–1932). He was the chairman of Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) from its inception in 1908 until 1934.