Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-25
SIR HIRAM MAXIM DEAD
At ACE OF SEVENTY-s|X
was inventor OF Automatic System
or Firearms Largely Used In
European War To.Duy.
PATENTS MANY OTHER DEVICES
amcrican-Born, Eic Became One of
Most Famous Engineers of Great
Britain After Going There in 1881.
Son Inventor Of Maxim Silenccr.
nv Associated Prcn.

hH associated Prcns.
] LONDON. November 2i.-Sir Hiram,
Maxim. inventor of the automatic sys-
ten of firearms. died AZ his home here
curly this morning.
>ir 'tiram Stevens aIaNim. American
"'in. was one OF the most famous in
VI n'ors. civil. mechanical and electrical
e.; .;incers OF Great Britain. lie was
:G"st widely known as III. inventor OF
tho Maxim machine gun. which makes
/ tt rccoil of the weapon serve rs tic
power for reloadinE. and which Is the
weapon largely used in the Europcan
VIZ to-day.
/ u" WAS born in Sangervilic Me
February s. 1870 the son OF Isaac
! weston AMI Harriet NJ MaNim and
! received only common school cduca-
tin. hui ne acquired scientific knowl-
eCSe by reading and at.tnGin, lectures.
IL Went 20 England in 1881. and had
=, '.ded there ever since. He was
K GIFTED by Queen Victoria in 1901.
lis son. Hiram Percy Maxim. is a
~ Unknown inventor in the United
| ties. known particularly as the in
r,'tor OF the Maxim silcnccr.
cor many years SIR Hiram was a
IL 'cctor In the firm OF Nichcrs Sons &
Maxim, but resigned that post III 1911.
+ ~ moro than thirty years he expert
rr"nted In acronautics and invented fly
!" < machines. In the light OF the pres
ct war. with It's numerous German air
snip raids OH England. 1t Is remark
ably interesting 20 recall that eight
years ago Sir Hiram took the British
nation to task for It's small interest I'm
! a"-onaut!cs. and pointed out then at a
TINE when aeroplancs were in their In
fancy. that England was in grave dan
ger of hombardment by airshps.
PREDICTED noMDARDMI.NT
OF ENGLAND BY AIRSHIPS
Docs any one doubt for moment"
said he. that. in case we find ourselves
81 war with r Continental power. air
ships will be used for bon,hardinr
English towns. both or the coast and
inland" The city OF London within a
years time can be attacked without
our enemy needing TO fear the boosted
British fleet"
Following the success Of the Wright
hiplane. Sir Hiram renewed his long
continued interest in aviation and in
1910 perfected Il machine which he de-
cllred had certain advantages over the
WriShts'. u was he who, with others
| in tcrcsted the British government In
beginning ito organization of An aerial
navy, and though he was then seventy
years old, he lived to see the great
war bring air fighting TO pass in even
greater measure. probably than he
himself had dreamed.
In addition 20 his gun and acropianc.
| he patented many electrical Inventions
| including incandesccnt lamps. .clf-rc
ulating current machines, several
! pieces Of ordnance and a smokelcs.
! powder
The aged inventor took a keen in
tcrest IN the war. and from time to
time there we're unconfrmcd reports
, OF his invention OF devices 20 meet
| the needs OF the war. one OF them
being an apparatus 10 coun,oract the
effects Of the poisonous gases which
tn" Germans were nrst 70 bring into
use. In 1915 he was appointed a mem
! ho, Of the Inventions BOARD Of the Brit
! ISL MunitioM Department under LLOYD
! George.
Str Hiram applied himself 20 siren
! nsly TO science throughout his long
! life that even his rrcrrations were
! Ven b! him reading scientific
| looks and studying the abstract sci
ccs.' He wrote many important
,icles and an autoh!oeraphy. Ny
| life" IN 1877.
! He Was Il chcvaiier of ;hc Logon Of
! Honor. member ri the American So
! "ict! OF civil Engineers. the Royal So
| ciety Of Arts, the British Association
/ for tho Advancement OF Science and
/ numerous other scientific bodies