Maxwell, SIR WILLIAM STIRLING

Maxwell, SIR WILLIAM STIRLING-, the son of Archibald Stirling of Keir, in Perthshire, was born at Kenmure House, near Glasgow, in 1818. Having graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1839, he spent some time travelling in Italy and Spain, one outcome of which was Annals of the Artists of Spain (3 vols. 1848). He always retained his interest in Spanish subjects: in 1852 was published from his pen Cloister Life of the Emperor Charles V., in 1855 Velazquez and his Works, in 1856 Notices of the Emperor Charles V. in 1555 and 1556, and in 1883 the sumptuous Don John of Austria (previously printed for private circulation). He also issued privately several other books, got up in a very sumptuous style, some dealing with Charles V. and two with the anatomist Vesalius. In 1866 he succeeded to the baronetcy and estates of his uncle, Sir John Maxwell of Pollok, adding the name of Maxwell to his own patronymic. Sir William's second wife (1877) was the Hon. Mrs Norton (q.v.). Besides representing Perthshire as a Conservative from 1852 to 1867, and again in 1872, he was a trustee of the British Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, and was chosen Lord Rector of St Andrews in 1863, of Edinburgh in 1871, and in 1875 Chancellor of Glasgow University. He died at Venice on 15th January 1878. A new edition of his Works was published in 6 vols. in 1891.