Hiram Stevens Maxim
1840 – 1916

Hiram Stevens Maxim

American-born inventor (1840-1916)

gunsmithinventorbusinessperson
Born
1840-02-05, Sangerville
Died
1916-11-24
Birthplace state
Maine

Biography

Sir Hiram Stevens Maxim was an American-born British inventor best known as the creator of the first automatic machine gun, the Maxim gun. Maxim held patents on numerous mechanical devices such as hair-curling irons, a mousetrap, and steam pumps. Maxim laid claim to inventing the lightbulb.

Occupation

Hiram Stevens Maxim is recorded as a gunsmith, a inventor and a businessperson, born in Maine (1840–1916).

Connections to Maine

Hiram Stevens Maxim was born in Sangerville, Maine in 1840. Explore other notable figures from Maine, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Hiram Stevens Maxim came from Sangerville. A full Aubrey report on Sangerville pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from Maine

Other historical figures born in Maine, ranked by historical prominence.

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American poet and educator (1807–1882)
John Ford
John Ford
American film director (1894–1973)
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller
Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller
Vice President of the United States from 1974 to 1977
Edna St. Vincent Millay
Edna St. Vincent Millay
American poet (1892–1950)
Hannibal Hamlin
Hannibal Hamlin
Vice President of the United States from 1861 to 1865 (1809–1891)
Samantha Smith
Samantha Smith
American peace activist and child actress (1972–1985)
Ellen G. White
Ellen G. White
American author, co-founder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (1827–1915)

Frequently asked about Hiram Stevens Maxim

Who was Hiram Stevens Maxim?
Hiram Stevens Maxim was American-born inventor (1840-1916), born in Maine (1840 – 1916).
When and where was Hiram Stevens Maxim born?
Hiram Stevens Maxim was born on 1840-02-05 in Sangerville.
When did Hiram Stevens Maxim die?
Hiram died on 1916-11-24.
What was Hiram Stevens Maxim known for?
Hiram Stevens Maxim is recorded as a gunsmith, a inventor and a businessperson.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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