Correspondence relating to Sir Herbert Eustace Maxwell (1845-1937)

The small collection consists of a letter to A. O. Curle and a letter to D. R. Cousin.

Herbert Eustace Maxwell was born in Edinburgh on 8 January 1845. He was educated at Eton and he studied at Christ Church, Oxford. A country gentleman and writer, Maxwell succeeded his father becoming 7th Baronet of Monreith in 1877. He was the Conservative MP for Wigtownshire, 1880-1906, and was Lord-Lieutenant of Wigtownshire, 1903-1935. Maxwell was Rhind Lecturer in Archaeology at Edinburgh University in 1893 and 1911, and a Lecturer in Scottish History at Glasgow University in 1910. In 1899 he represented the UK at the Congress on the Prevention of Tubercolosis in Berlin. His publications include Studies in the topography of Galloway (1887), Scottish land names (1894), Bruce and the struggle for Scottish independence (1897), Memories of the months (1897), Life of the Duke of Wellington (1899), The Creevey papers (1903), The making of Scotland (1911), and Edinburgh: an historical study (1916). Sir Herbert Eustace Maxwell died on 30 October 1937.

Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance.

Letter to Cousin found in book, acquired January 1987, Accession no. E87.2.

The biographical/administrative history was compiled using the following material: (1) The dictionary of national biography. The concise dictionary. Part 2. 1901-1970. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1982. (2) Who was who 1929-1940. London: Adam and Charles Black, 1941.

Compiled by Graeme D Eddie, Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections Division.

Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.

Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.

The local Indexes show other references to Maxwell related material (check the Indexes for more details): letter to Sir C. J. Pearson, 1891, at Gen. 756, no. 178; and, letter to Sir A. Geikie, 1915, at Gen. 525. In addition, the UK National Register of Archives (NRA), updated by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, notes: correspondence and papers, 1863-1937, National Library of Scotland, Manuscripts Division, Ref. Accs 7043, 7111, 8816 NRA 29224 Maxwell, and correspondence with Blackwoods, 1881-1900, Ref. MSS 4424-4723 passim; letters to Lady Londonderry, 1924-1937, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Ref. D3099/3/19 NRA 19803 Stewart; correspondence, 1929-1937, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Library and Archives, NRA 25004 Royal Botanic Garden.