Sir John Maxwell Papers

• Biographical Sketch
• Collection Description
• Collection Organization
• Box/Folder Listing

A chronological outline and brief biographical account of major events in the life of Sir John Grenfell Maxwell (1859-1929), general, president of the Egypt Exploration Society, taken from various biographies and obituary notices:

• 1879 - Commissioned in the 42nd Royal Highland Foot Brigade, later known as "1st Battalion, the Black Watch"
• 1882-1900 - The 42nd Foot is engaged in Egypt as part of the Army of Occupation
• 1882 - Battle at Tel-el-Kebir; Maxwell accompanies Lord Wolseley on an attempt to relieve General Gordon
• 1883-1885 - British officers reorganize the Khedive of Egypt's forces; Maxwell becomes staff captain in the Egyptian Military Police
• 1884-1885 - Maxwell serves in the Nile Campaign as Headquarters Camp Commandant and Provost-Marshal; Sir Francis Grenfell, the Sirdar, takes Maxwell on his personal staff and Maxwell receives the D.S.O. for his participation in the action at Giniss the action at Giniss
• 1885-1889 - Continues serving the Sirdar as A.D.C. and A.M.S. during the Sudan frontier operations
• 1892 - Marries Louise Selina Bonynge
• 1896-1898 - Serves as A.M.S. under Lord Kitchener in the reconquest of the Sudan,commanding the 3rd Egyptian Brigade at Firket, the 1st Egyptian Brigade at Atbara, and the 2nd Egyptian Brigade at Omdurman, for which he received thanks from both Houses of Parliament and a brevet-colonelcy
• 1897 - Appointed Governor of Nubia
• 1898 - Appointed Governor of Omdurman
• 1900-1902 - Commands the 14th Brigade in the South African War, on Lord Roberts' march to Pretoria; appointed Military Governor of Pretoria and the Western Transvaal (1900); received the K.C.B. and the C.M.G. for his services
• 1902 - Nominated Chief Staff Officer of the Third Army Corps in Ireland
• 1904-1908 - Serves with the Duke of Connaught in Ireland, London, and Malta
• 1904 - The Duke of Connaught, as Inspector General to the Forces, selects Maxwell as his C.S.O.
• 1907 - The Duke of Connaught is nominated Commander-in-Chief in the Mediterranean and appoints Maxwell Major-General, General Staff
• 1908-1912 - G.O.C. in Egypt
• 1914-1916 - The Great War; Maxwell returns to Egypt as commander of the British troops; for this service to the allies he receives foreign honors and is given the K.C.M.G.
• 1914 - Appointed Colonel of the Royal Highlanders; commences a passive defense of the Suez Canal
• 1915 - The Suez Canal is attacked by Turkey and successfully defended
• 1916 - Faces the Senussi threat
• 1916 - During World War I, Irish revolutionaries declare their independence and seize Dublin; Maxwell is appointed Commander-in-Chief, Military Governor of Ireland shortly after, and crushes the rebellion for which he gains the name "Bloody Maxwell"
• 1916-1919 - Promoted to G.C.B. and appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Command at York; occupied in the training of recruits
• 1919 - Promoted full general
• 1920 - Participates in Lord Milner's mission to Egypt
• 1922 - Retires
• 1923 - Travels to Luxor to view the tomb of Tutankhamen
• 1929 - Dies at Cape Town (February 20)

"His tenure of office in Ireland was remarkable for the firm measures which he took against the rebel leaders. His action in executing a number of them caused him to be the subject of an attack in the House of Commons, led by Mr. John Redmond, the Home Rule leader." The Daily Express (February 22, 1929)

Main Entry: Sir John Maxwell, 1859-1929

Range of Collection Dates: 1824-1940

Scope Note

Consists of Maxwell's diaries (1896, 1898, 1907, 1917-1919, 1920, 1923), correspondence, documents, photographs, scrapbooks, memorabilia, printed matter, and newspaper clippings. The collection contains correspondence with and photographs of leaders in government, society, the nobility, and the army, including Lord Kitchener and the Duke of Connaught, as well as with leading Egyptologists. Maxwell served in Egypt during the British Occupation, notably participating in the Battle at Omdurman during the reconquest of the Sudan, and in South Africa during the Boer War. In World War I Maxwell returned to Egypt to defend the Suez Canal and briefly served in Ireland after the Sinn Fein Rebellion. The collection includes World War I discussions of the Senussi threat and the failure at Gallipoli, as well as photographs of places where Maxwell served. In addition, there are Sir George Arthur's notes for a biography, and the correspondence and commonplace books of Maxwell's wife, Lady Louise Selina Maxwell.

Container Count: 18 boxes, 5 cartons, 4 flat cases, 2 wrapped packages
Cubic Feet: 14.78

Primary Language: English

Arrangement: Series:
    I. Sir John Maxwell--A. Diaries and Notes, B. Correspondence, C. Documents and Maps, D. Photographs, E. Memorabilia, F. Biographical;
    II. Louise Maxwell--A. Writings, B. Correspondence, C. Photographs, D. Scrapbooks;
    III. Others.

Provenance: The collection was a gift to the Department by Maxwell's daughter, Mrs.Clifford N. Carver, in 1967. It was recently (1992) enhanced by the addition of several of Maxwell's photograph albums and letters, the gift of Maxwell's grandson, John A. H. Carver, Class of 1943.

Person Added Entry:  Lady Louise Selina Maxwell, d. 1929

Subject Headings (in uppercase) / Form Headings (in upper and lowercase):

    Commonplace books, English--20th century
    Connaught and Strathearn, Arthur William Patrick Albert, Duke of, 1850-1942--Photographs
    Diaries, English--20th century
    Egypt--20th century--Photographs
    EGYPT--ANTIQUITIES
    EGYPT--HISTORY--BRITISH OCCUPATION, 1882-1936
    EGYPT--HISTORY, MILITARY--19TH CENTURY
    General Sir John Maxwell / Sir George Arthur
    Generals--Great Britain--19th century--Diaries
    Generals--Great Britain--20th century--Diaries
    George V, King of Great Britain, 1865-1936--Photographs
    GORDON RELIEF EXPEDITION, 1884-1885
    Great Britain. Army--Officers--19th century--Diaries
    Great Britain. Army--Officers--20th century--Correspondence
    Great Britain. Army--Officers--20th century--Diaries
    GREAT BRITAIN--HISTORY, MILITARY--19TH CENTURY
    GREAT BRITAIN--HISTORY, MILITARY--20TH CENTURY
    IRELAND--HISTORY--SINN FEIN REBELLION, 1916
    Kitchener, Horatio Herbert Kitchener, Earl, 1850-1916--Photographs
    Mary, Queen, consort of George, King of Great Britain, 1867-1953--Photographs
    Maxwell, John, Sir, 1859-1929--Photographs
    Maxwell, Louise Selina, Lady, d. 1929--Photographs
    OMDURMAN, BATTLE OF, 1898
    Scrapbooks, English--20th century
    SENUSSITE REBELLION, 1916-1918
    South Africa--20th century--Photographs
    Sudan--20th century--Photographs
    SUDAN--HISTORY--1862-1899
    SOUTH AFRICAN WAR, 1899-1902
    World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, English
    WORLD WAR, 1914-1918--CAMPAIGNS--TURKEY--GALLIPOLI PENINSULA

I. Sir John Maxwell (1859-1929)[Boxes 1-22]

    A. Diaries and Notes [Box 1]

    B. Correspondence [Boxes 2-6]

    C. Documents and Maps [Boxes 7-8]

    D. Photographs [Boxes 9-14]

    E. Memorabilia [Boxes 15-19]

    F. Biographical Material[Boxes 15,20]

    G. Printed Matter [Boxes 21-22]

II. Lady Louise Maxwell (d. 1929)[Boxes 23-28]

    A. Writings [Box 23]

    B. Correspondence [Boxes 24-26]

    C. Photographs [Boxes 9,12]

    D. Scrapbooks [Boxes 27-28]

III. Others [Box 29]

---

Box/Folder Listing

I. Sir John Maxwell (1859-1929)

    A. Diaries and Notes: 1896-1929

    B. Correspondence

Box 2   1 (Miscellaneous correspondence)
            2 Advisor to the Interior
            3 Alexander George of Teck: 1910
            4 Allenby, Edmund Henry Hynman, first Viscount Allenby of Megiddo
            5 Altham, E.
            6 Arthur, George Compton Archibald (1860-1946): 1927-1928
            7 Ashbourne, F.: 1918
            8 Asquith, Herbert Henry, first Earl of Oxford and Asquith (1852-1928): 1916-1917
            9 Australia, the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of: 1916
            10 Beauchamp, William Lygon, seventh Earl (1872-1938)
            11 Bingley, A.: 1916
            12 Birdwood, William Riddell, first Baron Birdwood (1865-1951): 1915-1928
            13 Bonynge, Charles W.
            14a Bonynge, Rodie Stephens (1843-1914)
            14b Bonynge, Virginia: ca.1891
            15 Bouguereau, Adolphe William (1825-1905): 1890
            16 Braithwaite, Walter Pipon (1865-1945): 1915
            17 Brazilian Embassy: 1923
            18 Budge, Ernest Alfred Thompson Wallis (1857-1934): 1928-1929
            19 Burnett-Stuart, John Theodosius (1875-1958): 1918-1919
            20 Callwell, Charles Edward (1859-1928)
            21 Campbell, Henry H.: 1927
            22 Carter, Maurice Darham: 1916
            23 Carver, Clifford (1891-1965): 1920-1927
            24 Carver, Philae Maxwell: 1909-1927
            25 Christian, Princess
            26 Clayton, Gilbert Falkingham (1875-1929): 1916-1917
            27 Colonial Office: 1916

Box 2   28 Congreve, Walter Norris (1862-1927)
            29 Connaught and Strathearn, Duchess of, Princess Louise Margaret of
            30 Connaught and Strathearn, Duke of, Prince Arthur William Patrick Albert (1850-1942): 1903-1928
            31 Connaught, Princess Patricia
            32 Cowans, John Steven (1862-1921): 1916
            33a Creedy, Herbert J.: 1917-1928
            33b Crutchley, Julia: ca.1891
            34 Davidson, Arthur: 1906
            35 Dilke, Charles Wentworth, second baronet (1843-1911)
            36 Dorrien, Horace Lockwood Smith- (1858-1930): 1883

Box 3   1 E.O.C. Infantry Division
            2 Edrissi, Ahmed Asshariff Assenoussi: 1915-1916
            3 Edward VII, King of Great Britain (1841-1910): 1902-1906
            4 Egypt Exploration Society: 1924-1928
            5 Empire Community Settlement: 1923-1925
            6 Esher, Reginald Baliol Brett, second Viscount (1852-1930)
            7 Evan-Thomas, Hugh (1862-1928)
            8 Ewart, John Spencer (1861-1930): 1906
            9 Fitzgerald, Oswald: ca.1915-ca.1916
            10 Foreign Office
            11 Forferl, Dr. Eugene: 1914
            12 Gardiner, Alan Henderson (1879-1963): 1926
            13 Garvagh, Florence
            14 Gascoyne-Cecil, Robert Arthur Talbot, third Marquess of Salisbury (1830-1903): 1899
            15 George V, King of Great Britain (1865-1936)
            16 Gordon, J.L.R.: 1916
            17 Graham, Ronald William (1870-1949): 1916-1920
            18 Grenfell, Francis Wallace, first Baron Grenfell of Kilvey (1841-1925): ca.1882-ca.1886
            19 Grenfell, John Pascoe: ca.1925
            20 Haig, Douglas, first Earl Haig (1861-1928): 1917-1919
            21 Halim, Prince Mohamed Aly: 1914
            22 Hall, Harry Reginald Holland (1873-1930): 1926
            23 Hamilton, Ian Standish Monteith (1853-1947): 1915-1916
            24 Hamilton, Ian Standish Monteith: clippings and correspondence regarding Hamilton's account of the battle at Gallipoli: 1920
            25 Hardinge, Charles, Baron Hardinge of Penshurst (1858-1944): 1919
            26 Hassan, A.: 1922
            27 Hazadi, Ahmed: 1916
            28 Helena Victoria, Princess (1870-1948): ca.1893-ca.1915
            29 Hodges, Frank: 1928
            30 Hussein Kamil, Sultan of Egypt (1850-1917): 1915-1916

Box 4   1 Intelligence Section, General Staff of the Force in Egypt
            2 Izzet, Aziz, Pasha (1870-): 1925, 1927
            3 Kenyon, Frederic George (1863-1952): 1923, 1926
            4 Keogh
            5 Kitchener, Horatio Herbert, first Earl Kitchener of Khartoum and Broome
            6 Kitchener, Horatio Herbert: correspondence and papers in connection with
            7 Kitchener, Horatio Herbert: Kitchener's will and related documents, 1916-1919
            8 Knollys, Francis, first Viscount Knollys (1837-1924): 1905
            9 Lauderdale, Lord: 1926
            10 Lawrence, Thomas Edward, later T. E. Shaw, "Lawrence of Arabia" (1888-1935): ca.1918-ca.1927
            11 Lloyd, George Ambrose, first Baron Lloyd (1879-1941): 1925-1928
            12 Long, Walter Hume, first Viscount Long of Wraxall (1854-1924): 1916
            13 Louise Caroline Alberta (?), princess of Great Britain (1848-1939): ca.1927
            14 McMahon, (Arthur) Henry (1862-1949): 1916
            15 MacMunn, George Fletcher (1869-1952): 1924
            16 MacPherson, J. D., on behalf of the Royal Highlanders of Canada: 1929
            17 Maffey, John Loader, first Baron Rugby (1877-1969): 1928
            18 Mahmoud, M.: 1928
            19 Masini, Carlos Ram¢n: 1925-1926
            20 Maxwell, Angelita: 1882, 1885
            21 Maxwell, Florita, later Florita Thesiger: ca.1882-1925
            22 Maxwell, Lola (?): 1885
            23 Maxwell, Mrs. F. M. (Maria Emma Grenfell): 1882-1885, from Maxwell in Egypt concerning his experiences there
            24 Maxwell, Pancho (?): 1882,1885
            25 Maxwell, Sidney Grenfell: 1885
            26 Methuen, Paul Sanford, third Baron Methuen (1845-1932)
            27 Milner, Alfred, first Viscount Milner (1854-1925): 1900, 1920-1921
            28 Monday, Kern and Herbert, Ltd.
            29 Monro, Charles Carmichael, baronet (1860-1929)
            30 Munro-Ferguson, Ronald Cranford, Viscount Novar (1860-1934)
            31 Murray, Archibald James (1860-1945): 1915

Box 5   1 New York Herald: ca.1900-ca.1901
            2 Patterson, J. H.: ca.1917-ca.1918
            3 Payn, James (1830-1898)
            4 Peyton
            5 Platt, Wilfrid
            6 Portland, the Earl of: 1919-1927
            7 Pretyman, George
            8 Pretoria Town Council, the Chairman of: 1902
            9 Roberts, Frederick Sleigh, first Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Pretoria, and Waterford (1832-1914): 1900-1909
            10 Robertson, William Robert, first baronet (1860-1933): 1916-1919
            11 Russell, Thomas Wentworth, Pasha (1879-1954): 1917-1919
            12 Salisbury, Francis Owen (Frank) (1874-1962)
            13 Selby, Walford: 1928
            14 Senussi, El Sayed Ahmed el Sherif el: ca.1915-ca.1919
            15 Stevens, T. G.: 1916
            16 Tennant, C. J.: 1915
            17 Times, the Editor of the: 1925
            18 Transvaal Administration, Office of the Secretary to the: 1902
            19 Unsworth, J.: 1916-1929
            20 War Office, London: 1916-1928
            21 Ward
            22 Watson, J.: 1901
            23 White, A. S.: 1931
            24 White, Henry (1850-1927): 1898-1920
            25 Wilson, Henry Hughes, baronet (1864-1922): 1914
            26 Wingate, (Francis) Reginald, first baronet (1861-1953): ca.1917-ca.1919
            27 Wright, H. R. H.: 1916
            28 Wright, Huntley (1868-1943): 1928
            29 Younghusband

        2. With his wife, Louise Selina Bonynge Maxwell (d. 1929): 1891-1926

Box 6   1 dates not indicated
            2 1891-1897
            3 1898-1899
            4 1900
            5 1901
            6 1902-1906
            7 1907-1910
            8 1911-1915
            9 1916
            10 1917-1926

C. Documents and Maps

Box 8   Album: "Book of Honors" ca.1882-ca.1920, contains all official documents connected with Maxwell's honors and orders from Great Britain and other governments, and includes ten Royal British signatures Oversize documents: Award of Honorary Membership in the Acad‚mie d'Armes, 1886; House of Commons Vote of Thanks to Kitchener [and to Maxwell and others] for the Nile campaign of 1896-98, 1899; House of Lords Vote of Thanks, 1899

    D. Photographs

Box 9   1 Formal portraits of Maxwell
            2 Informal pictures of Maxwell with others
            3 Negative photostats from the Maxwell papers
            4 Photograph of an encampment by the Pyramids: 1915; Framed interior shot
            5 Photographs of Maxwell's funeral

        2. Maxwell's collection of formal portraits

Box 10 1 Alfonso XIII, King of Spain, framed and inscribed, 1919; Victoria Eugenia, Queen, consort of Alfonso XIII, signed, 1919; Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, framed and signed, 1930

            2 The Bagara Emir Mahmoud, framed; Princess Beatrice of Battenberg, signed; Count and Countess Folke Bernadotte, signed, 1936; King George V and Queen Mary at Hull, 1917
            3 Ian Hamilton, signed; Princess Helena, signed, 1905; Mohamed Aziz Izzet, signed and inscribed; Hussein Kamil, signed and inscribed, 1916; Horatio Herbert Kitchener, signed
            4 Leopold III, King of Belgium, framed and signed, 1916, and framed only, 1917

Box 11 1 Marie, Queen of Rumania, framed and signed, 1916 (2); Queen Mary of Great Britain, framed and signed, 1916; Carlos Ram¢n Masini; Lord Milner, framed; Otto and Felix of Hapsburg, framed and signed, 1940
            2 Cecil Rhodes, signed, and a drawing; W. de Ruttkay (?), signed; Crown Wilhelm, Crown Prince of Germany, framed and signed; Kaiser William II, Emperor of Germany and King of Prussia, framed and signed, 1908
            3 Unidentified portraits
            4 Portraits of children and other familial subjects

Box 13  Oversize formal portraits: George V, framed and signed, 1927; The Khedive of Egypt, framed and signed, 1910

        3. Albums

Box 12  Albums: 1. ca.1883-ca.1918; 2. ca.1885-ca.1927; 3. ca.1909-ca.1911
Box 13  Albums: 1. ca.1881-ca.1906; 2. ca.1902-ca.1908
Box 14  Albums of public works: The Isna Barrage and The Nile Reservoir Works at Aswan and Asyut

    E. Memorabilia

Box 16 Scrapbooks: 1. (empty); 2. ca.1888-ca.1919; 3. ca.1913-ca.1926

Box 17 Albums of clippings: 4. 1852-1927; 5. 1929; 6. 1929, includes letters of condolence Guestbooks: 7. (dates not indicated); 8. Egypt 1911-1912

Box 18 Oversize memorabilia: autograph scroll

Box 19 Oversize memorabilia: matted cartoon of Maxwell as Governor of Pretoria, with explanation by P. Michael Peters, 1901

    F. Biographical Material

Box 20 Oversize biographical material: scroll of a genealogy chart

    G. Printed Matter

Box 8   Oversize library materials: The Illustrated London News Record of the Transvaal War: 1899-1900; The Making of Modern Egypt: 1898

Box 22 1 Official reports: on Egypt, 1919-1921
            2 Official reports: 1904-1906
            3 Official reports: 1914-1919
            4 Clippings and other printed matter on Ireland and the Sinn Fein
            5 Clippings: to 1929
            6 Clippings: from 1929

II. Louise Selina Bonynge Maxwell (d. 1929)

    A. Writings

    B. Correspondence: 1885-1929

Box 25 1 Gardiner, Alan Henderson (1879-1963)
            2 Goffinet, Baron C.: 1916
            3 Grenfell, Francis Wallace, first Baron Grenfell of Kilvey (1841-1925)
            4 Haldane, Richard Burdon, Viscount Haldane of Cloan (1856-1928): 1908- 1909
            5 Hall
            6 Hall, Harry Reginald Holland (1873-1930): 1929
            7 Hamilton, Frederick: 1926
            8 Hamilton, Ian Standish Monteith (1853-1947)
            9 Helena Victoria, Princess (1870-1948)
            10 Hermine, Crown Princess of Germany (1887-?)
            11 Hichens, Robert Smythe (1864-1950)
            12 Home Secretary: 1924, 1925
            13 Hussein Kamil, Sultan of Egypt (1850-1917): ca.1916
            14 Irish Times: 1917
            15 Izzet, Aziz, Pasha, (1870-)
            16 Jollippe, Frances
            17 Kadria
            18 Khan, Aga: 1926
            25 19 Knollys, Francis, first Viscount Knollys (1837-1924): 1902
            20 Kitchener, Horatio Herbert, first Earl Kitchener of Khartoum (1850-1916)
            21 Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment: 1929
            22 Leigh-Mallory, Trafford Leigh (1892-1944): 1926
            23 Levidis, Dmitri N. (?)
            24 Liberian Development Company: 1909
            25 Lloyd, Blanche: 1926
            26 Lloyd, George Ambrose, first Baron Lloyd (1879-1941): ca.1926
            27 Louis Philippe Robert, duc d'Orl‚ans
            28 Louise: ca. 1890
            29 Louise Caroline Alberta (1848-1939) (?): ca.1913-ca.1919
            30 Lyte, Henry Churchill Maxwell (1848-1940) (?): 1900

Box 26 1 Maria Luisa San Carlo
            2 Marie Louise, Princess (1872-1956): 1901-1917
            3 Marshall, John Hubert (1870-1958): 1906
            4 Maxwell, William Babington (1866-1938): 1923, 1928
            5 Mazloum
            6 Melek
            7 Metternich, Paul
            8 Militza of Montenegro: 1928
            9 Milner, Alfred, first Viscount Milner (1854-1925): ca.1898-ca.1919
            10 Morning Post: 1927
            11 Norris, W. Foxley: 1928-1929
            12 Parker, Louis Napoleon (1852-1944): 1909
            13 Petroff, A.: 1916
            14 Portland, the Earl of: 1918
            15 Rhodes, Cecil John (1853-1902)
            16 Richards (?)
            17 Robertson, William Robert (1860-1933): 1918
            18 Rundle, (Henry Macleod) Leslie (1856-1934): 1915
            19 Shorter, Clement King (1857-1926): 1916
            20 Stamfordham, Baron, Arthur John Bigge, (1849-1931): 1929
            21 Stanley, Edward Montagu Cavendish, Lord Stanley (1894-1938): 1917
            22 Stevenson, F. L.: 1917
            23 Stroud, Gregory: 1923
            24 Sutherland, Eileen
            25 Treasury
            26 Tree, Herbert Beerbohm (1853-1917): 1909-1912
            27 Verney, Harry: 1928
            28 Victoria Adelaide Mary Louise, Princess of Great Britain (1840-1901): ca.1901
            29 Victoria Eug‚nie Julia Ena, Queen of Spain (1887-1969): 1925
            30 Whitworth, John: 1916
            26 31 Wilson, Henry Hughes (1864-1922): 1918
            32 Wood, (Henry) Evelyn M. (1838-1919)
            33 Wormser, J. & S.: 1901
            34 Wright, Huntley (1868-1943): 1923
            35 Wyndham, George (1863-1913): 1912
            36 Younghusband, George

    C. Photographs

Box 12 Albums: 4. (dates not indicated); 5. ca.1890-ca.1902

    D. Scrapbooks

III. Others

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