Maxim, Hudson, 1853-1927

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Hudson Maxim (1853-1927) was an American inventor, mechanical engineer and explosives expert. He worked as a consultant for the Du Pont Company from 1897 to 1927 and wrote books on explosives and literary and political matters.

From the guide to the Hudson Maxim papers, 1883-1927, 1890s-1927, (The New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division.)

Hudson Maxim was born in Orneville Maine on February 3, 1853, to a poor but mechanically-gifted family. His older brother Hiram invented the Maxim gun, the first truly efficient automatic machine gun, and his nephew, Hiram Percy Maxim, invented the silencer. Hudson was the first to successfully produce smokeless powder in America.

In the 1880s, Hudson Maxim worked in his brother's English gun factory, where he became familiar with a French version of smokeless gunpowder. He returned to the United States in 1888 as the American representative of the Maxim-Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition Company, Ltd., and began experimenting on his own with high explosives, securing his first patent in 1889. The contract with his brother expired in 1891, and Maxim established the Columbia Powder Manufacturing Company to manufacture dynamite at a plant near Farmingdale, N.J. When the company failed in 1893, he reorganized it as the Maxim Powder Company.

Maxim then began experimenting with smokeless powder and received a number of patents between 1893 and 1895. He then returned to England, where he attempted to set up companies to manufacture explosives, calcium carbide, and, at the suggestion of his nephew, Hiram Percy, automobile engines. None of these efforts was successful. Hudson laid the blame on Hiram's interference, and a permanent rift developed between the brothers. Hudson sold his most important patents to E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. in 1897, and the company established a laboratory and summer home for him at Lake Hopatcong, N.J. Maxim continued to produce inventions relating to explosives, ordnance, and torpedoes through the 1910s, but he also wandered down many blind alleys, including "Maxim-feast," a soybean-based food supplement, and "the Game of War," a supposed "improvement" on chess.Maxim helped organize the Maxim Munitions Corporation in 1915, hoping that it would assume the promotional burdens while he concentrated on inventing, but he soon withdrew when its managers tied his name to a scheme to turn water into gasoline.

After 1900 Maxim carved out a second career as a public speaker and inveterate writer of magazine articles and letters to the editor, freely venting his opinions on poetry and language as well as invention, progress, and public affairs. Beginning in 1914 he vociferously argued for American rearmament against a wide array of Progressive-era pacifists. After the war he concentrated on the development of the Lake Hopatcong area and on local affairs. He died on May 6, 1927.

From the description of Papers, 1851-1925. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122503508

Hudson Maxim was born in Orneville Maine on February 3, 1853, to a poor but mechanically-gifted family. His older brother Hiram invented the Maxim gun, the first truly efficient automatic machine gun, and his nephew, Hiram Percy Maxim, invented the silencer. Hudson was the first to successfully produce smokeless powder in America.

In the 1880s, Hudson Maxim worked in his brother's English gun factory, where he became familiar with a French version of smokeless gunpowder. He returned to the United States in 1888 as the American representative of the Maxim-Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition Company, Ltd., and began experimenting on his own with high explosives, securing his first patent in 1889. The contract with his brother expired in 1891, and Maxim established the Columbia Powder Manufacturing Company to manufacture dynamite at a plant near Farmingdale, N.J. When the company failed in 1893, he reorganized it as the Maxim Powder Company.

Maxim then began experimenting with smokeless powder and received a number of patents between 1893 and 1895. He then returned to England, where he attempted to set up companies to manufacture explosives, calcium carbide, and, at the suggestion of his nephew, Hiram Percy, automobile engines. None of these efforts was successful. Hudson laid the blame on Hiram's interference, and a permanent rift developed between the brothers. Hudson sold his most important patents to E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. in 1897, and the company established a laboratory and summer home for him at Lake Hopatcong, N.J. Maxim continued to produce inventions relating to explosives, ordnance, and torpedoes through the 1910s, but he also wandered down many blind alleys, including "Maxim-feast," a soybean-based food supplement, and "the Game of War," a supposed "improvement" on chess.Maxim helped organize the Maxim Munitions Corporation in 1915, hoping that it would assume the promotional burdens while he concentrated on inventing, but he soon withdrew when its managers tied his name to a scheme to turn water into gasoline.

After 1900 Maxim carved out a second career as a public speaker and inveterate writer of magazine articles and letters to the editor, freely venting his opinions on poetry and language as well as invention, progress, and public affairs. Beginning in 1914 he vociferously argued for American rearmament against a wide array of Progressive-era pacifists. After the war he concentrated on the development of the Lake Hopatcong area and on local affairs. He died on May 6, 1927.

From the description of Papers, 1889-1925. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122516235

Hudson Maxim (1853-1927) was an American inventor, mechanical engineer and explosives expert.

He worked as a consultant for the Du Pont Company from 1897 to 1927 and wrote books on explosives and literary and political matters.

From the description of Hudson Maxim papers, 1883-1927, bulk (1890s-1927). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122580483

Hudson Maxim was born in Orneville Maine on February 3, 1853, to a poor but mechanically-gifted family. His older brother Hiram invented the Maxim gun, the first truly efficient automatic machine gun, and his nephew, Hiram Percy Maxim, invented the silencer. Hudson was the first to successfully produce smokeless powder in America.

After 1900 Maxim carved out a second career as a public speaker and inveterate writer of magazine articles and letters to the editor, freely venting his opinions on poetry and language as well as invention, progress, and public affairs. Beginning in 1914 he vociferously argued for American rearmament against a wide array of Progressive-era pacifists. After the war he concentrated on the development of the Lake Hopatcong (N.J.) area and on local affairs. He died on May 6, 1927. For a more complete biography see DEHV96-A17.

From the description of Papers, 1861-1926. (Hagley Museum & Library). WorldCat record id: 122547537

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Van Noppen, Leonard Charles, 1868-1935. Letter 1904, September 12, New City [to] Mr. [Edwin] Markham, Staten Island / Leonard Charles Van Noppen. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Maxim, Hudson, 1853-1927. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1918. University of Pennsylvania Library
creatorOf Hudson Maxim papers, 1883-1927, 1890s-1927 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Dupont, Francis I., 1888-1959. Letter, 1905, Feb. 21, Wilmington, Delaware [to] Mr. Edwin Markahm, Brooklyn, N.Y. / Francis I. DuPont. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Maxim, Hudson, 1853-1927. Papers. Smithsonian Institution. Libraries
creatorOf Maxim, Hudson, 1853-1927. TLS, 1926 April 13 : Landing, NJ, to Mr. Hill. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Markham, Edwin, 1852-1940. Letter 1924 December 24, Staten Island, N.Y. [to] Eden Phillpote?(Phillpotts), [England / Edwin Markham]. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Norton, Charles Eliot, 1827-1908. Autograph collection [manuscript] 1820, 1869, 1894-1922. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Francis Gurney, 1850-1904. Papers, 1818-1947. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Maxim, Hudson, 1853-1927. [Letter] 1916 January 29, Brooklyn, N.Y. [to] C.T. Brady, Yonkers, N.Y. / Hudson Maxim. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Barksdale, Hamilton M. (Hamilton Macfarland), 1861-1918. Papers, 1892-1918. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Maxim, Hudson, 1853-1927. Papers, 1889-1925. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Pierre S. (Pierre Samuel), 1870-1954. Papers, 1880-1954. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Calkins, A. Letter, 1901, Dec 24, New York City [to] Mr. Edwin Markham, [New York City]. / A.M. Calkins. Wagner College, Horrmann Library
creatorOf Maxim, Hudson, 1853-1927. Hudson Maxim papers, 1883-1927, bulk (1890s-1927). Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
creatorOf Maxim, Hudson, 1853-1927. Papers, 1861-1926. Hagley Museum & Library
creatorOf Maxim, Hudson, 1853-1927. Papers, 1851-1925. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Immigration Restriction League (U.S.) records, 1893-1921 Houghton Library
creatorOf Maxim, Hudson, 1853-1927. [Letter] 1916 January 29, Brooklyn, N.Y. [to] C.T. Brady, Yonkers, N.Y. / Hudson Maxim. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Du Pont, Irénée, 1876-1963. Papers, 1784-1957. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. Legal Dept. Records, 1801-1965. Hagley Museum & Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
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associatedWith Armstrong, W. G. (William George), Baron, 1810-1900. person
associatedWith Barksdale, Hamilton M. (Hamilton Macfarland), 1861-1918. person
associatedWith Borglum, Gutzon, 1867-1941. person
associatedWith Brady, C. T. person
associatedWith Bryan, William Jennings, 1860-1925. person
associatedWith Burbank, Luther, 1849-1926. person
associatedWith Calkins, A. corporateBody
associatedWith Crawford, Jack, 1847-1917. person
associatedWith Dibner, Bern, person
associatedWith Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930. person
associatedWith Du Pont, A. Felix (Alexis Felix), 1879-1948. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Francis Gurney, 1850-1904. person
associatedWith Dupont, Francis I., 1888-1959. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Francis I. (Francis Irénée), 1873-1942. person
associatedWith Du Pont, H. A. (Henry Algernon), 1838-1926. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Irénée, 1876-1963. person
associatedWith Du Pont, Pierre S. (Pierre Samuel), 1870-1954. person
associatedWith Du Pont, T. Coleman (Thomas Coleman), 1863-1930. person
associatedWith Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931. person
associatedWith E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. corporateBody
associatedWith E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. Legal Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith Einstein, Albert, 1879-1955. person
associatedWith E.W. Bliss Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Gathmann, Louis, 1843-1917. person
associatedWith Gish, Lillian, 1896- person
associatedWith Hotchkiss Ordnance Company, Ltd. corporateBody
correspondedWith Immigration Restriction League (U.S.). corporateBody
associatedWith Markham, Edwin, 1852-1940. person
associatedWith Maxim, Hiram Percy, 1869-1936. person
associatedWith Maxim, Hiram S. (Hiram Stevens), 1840-1916. person
associatedWith Maxim, Hudson, 1853- person
associatedWith Maxim, Lilian person
associatedWith Maxim, Lilian. person
associatedWith Maxim Munitions Corp. corporateBody
associatedWith Maxim Munitions Corporation. corporateBody
associatedWith Maxim-Nordenfelt Guns and Ammunition Company, Ltd. corporateBody
associatedWith Maxim Powder and Torpedo Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Moley, Raymond, 1886-1975. person
associatedWith Morris Canal and Banking Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Moxham, Arthur James, 1854-1931. person
associatedWith Napoleon I, Emperor of the French, 1769-1821 person
associatedWith Naval Consulting Board of the United States. corporateBody
associatedWith Normal Powder Syndicate Limited. corporateBody
associatedWith Norton, Charles Eliot, 1827-1908. person
associatedWith Russian-American-Asiatic Corporation. corporateBody
associatedWith Sanger, Margaret, 1879-1966. person
associatedWith Stowmarket Maxim Nordenfelt Vickers Explosive Company, Ltd. corporateBody
associatedWith Tichenor, Frank A., 1882-1950. person
associatedWith United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ordnance. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Navy Dept. Bureau of Ordnance. corporateBody
associatedWith Van Noppen, Leonard Charles, 1868-1935. person
associatedWith Vickers, Sons and Company, ltd. corporateBody
associatedWith Vickers, Sons and Company, ltd. corporateBody
associatedWith Viereck, George Sylvester, 1884-1962. person
associatedWith Winslow, Lanier & Company. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
United States
United States
New Jersey
Hopatcong, Lake (N.J.)
Lake Hopatcong (N.J.)
Lake Hopatcong (N.J.)
New Jersey
Subject
Aeronautics
Antismoking movement
Armstrong gun
Calcium carbide
Canals
Canning and preserving
Cartridges
Cigarette habit
Diamonds, Artificial
Dynamite
Explosions
Explosives
Fuzes (Ordnance)
Gasoline substitutes
Gunpowder, Smokeless
Immigrants
Inventions
Inventors
Machine guns
Military weapons
Motorite (Propellant)
Nativism
Nitrocellulose
Nutrition
Ordnance
Pacifism
Patent lawyers
Patents
Patents
Peace movements
Peace movements
Prohibition
Prohibition
Real estate development
Relativity
Science
Social Darwinism
Soyfoods
Stabillite (Explosive)
Torpedo-boats
Torpedoes
World War, 1914-1918
Occupation
Inventors
Activity

Person

Birth 1853-02-03

Death 1927-05-06

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 30604033