Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, 9th Baronet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Stirling-Maxwell
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Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, c. 1870, photograph by Thomas Annan
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| Member of Parliament for Perthshire | |
| In office 12 February 1874 – 15 January 1878 |
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| Preceded by | Charles Stuart Parker |
| Succeeded by | Henry Home-Drummond-Moray |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Stirling
8 March 1818 Kenmure, East Dunbartonshire, Scotland |
| Died | 15 January 1878 (aged 59) Venice, Italy |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouses |
Lady Anna Maria Leslie-Melville
(m. 1865; died 1874)Caroline Norton
(m. 1877; died 1877) |
| Relations | Edward Stirling (half-brother) |
| Children | 2 |
| Parents | Archibald Stirling Elizabeth Maxwell |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
| Occupation | Historic writer, art historian, politician |
Sir William Stirling-Maxwell, 9th Baronet (born March 8, 1818 – died January 15, 1878) was an important Scottish writer, art historian, and politician. He was known as William Stirling until 1865.
He held a very high honor called the Order of the Thistle. This is one of the greatest awards given by the Crown in Scotland. He was also the Chancellor of the University of Glasgow from 1875 until his death.
Contents
Who Was Sir William Stirling-Maxwell?
Early Life and Education
William Stirling was born in a place called Kenmure, Scotland. His father was Archibald Stirling, and his mother was Elizabeth Maxwell. He had a half-brother named Edward Stirling.
He was taught at home for a while. Later, he went to Trinity College, Cambridge, a famous university. He earned his first degree in 1839 and a master's degree in 1843.
After college, he traveled a lot. He visited countries like Spain and places in the Middle East. His travels helped him learn about art and history.
A Life in Politics
William Stirling-Maxwell was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Perthshire. This means he was elected to represent that area in the UK government. He served as an MP from 1852 to 1868. He was elected again from 1874 until he died in 1878.
He also held several important positions in education. He was chosen as the Rector of the University of St Andrews in 1862. Later, he became Rector of the University of Edinburgh in 1871.
In 1865, he inherited the title of Baronet. This is a special hereditary title. At this time, he added "Maxwell" to his name, becoming Sir William Stirling-Maxwell.
In 1875, he became the Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. This was a big deal because he was the first Chancellor chosen by the university's General Council. He also received an honorary degree from the University of Oxford.
He was a member of the University of London Senate. He was also a trustee for important places like the British Museum and the National Gallery, London.
His Writings and Interests
Sir William Stirling-Maxwell was a very talented writer. In 1848, he published an important book called Annals of the Artists of Spain. This book was one of the first of its kind.
He also wrote about history. One of his famous books was The Cloister Life of the Emperor Charles the Fifth. He also wrote about the artist Velazquez.
He lived at Keir House, a large estate. He was interested in farming and animals. He raised special kinds of cattle called shorthorns and large horses called Clydesdales.
Besides his writing and political work, he loved books. He was a bibliographer, meaning he studied and collected books. He also collected many works of art.
Family Life and Legacy
Sir William Stirling-Maxwell was married twice. His first wife was Lady Anna Maria Leslie-Melville. They had two sons:
- Sir John Stirling-Maxwell, who became the 10th Baronet.
- Archibald Stirling, who became a Brigadier General.
After Lady Anna Maria passed away, he married Caroline Norton in 1877. She was a well-known author. Sadly, she died just three months later.
Sir William Stirling-Maxwell passed away on January 15, 1878, while on holiday in Venice, Italy. His body was brought back to Britain. He is buried in Lecropt Churchyard, near Stirling.
Selected Publications
Here are some of the books Sir William Stirling-Maxwell wrote:
As William Stirling
- Annals of the Artists of Spain (1847)
- The Cloister Life of the Emperor Charles the Fifth (1852)
- Velazquez and his Works (1855)
As Sir William Stirling-Maxwell
- Don John of Austria (published in two volumes, 1883)
