Back Hiram Maxim Afrikaans هيرام مكسيم Arabic Hayrem Maksim Azerbaijani Хайрэм Стывенс Максім Byelorussian Хайръм Стивънс Максим Bulgarian Hiram Maxim Breton Hiram Stevens Maxim Catalan Hiram Maxim Corsican Hiram Stevens Maxim Czech Hiram Maxim German
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. 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.