William James Maxwell

Maxwell was born a son of builder Francis Maxwell (c. 1810 – 4 September 1889) and his wife Jane Young Maxwell (c. 1810 – 18 October 1889) in Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland, where he received an education. After some fifteen years in Glasgow and London he emigrated to Australia, arriving in Melbourne in 1875,[1] and subsequently to Adelaide, South Australia. He returned to England, expecting to re-settle there but, finding the weather oppressive, returned to Adelaide around 1890.

Maxwell was a member of H. P. Gill's exclusive but short-lived Adelaide Art Circle 1891–1892. He must have had some talents as an entertainer, as most meetings ended with him giving some kind of rendition.

He had a home at Kent Town for some time, then built a magnificent residence, "Woodlands", Edwardstown, where he died.

Robert Burns. The first statue carved in Adelaide.[2]

• 1883 panel and other work for Clayton Congregational Church, Kensington, South Australia.[3]
• 1884 statue of St. Patrick, altars, font and other work for St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney.[4]
• 1894 statue of Robert Burns on North Terrace, Adelaide.
• "Industry" on the Savings Bank Building in Currie Street, Adelaide.
• Half-size model for a statue of John McDouall Stuart, which may have influenced James White in his work, unveiled in 1901. He was to have produced the full-size statue, but died before the marble ordered from London arrived.[5]
• (unspecified) work for the new Parliament buildings and Bank of South Australia, Australian Mutual and E.,S.,& A. Bank, and in Melbourne the E.& S. Bank and Post Office.[5]

He married Isabella Strachan (1844? 1845? – 28 February 1914); their children included:

• Francis William Maxwell (1869–1947) married Edith Alice Humphris of Yongala, South Australia, on 21 April 1897. He was Assistant Engineer of Railways in Western Australia.
• John Strachan Maxwell (draftsman in the South Australian Railways) married Amy Coveny of Sydney on 2 March 1908
• William Maxwell (1882–1951) lived in Western Australia.
• Margaret Innes "Ina" Maxwell (1870–1962) married Charles Henry Reeves on 28 September 1888, lived at Mount Barker.
• Jane Young "Janie" Maxwell (1873–1963) married Christopher H. Ragless on 15 October 1897, lived on South Road.
• Susan "Susie" Maxwell (4 February 1885 – 1967) married Leslie H. H. Shepley, lived in Kadina, South Australia
• Helen Maxwell (6 February 1887 – 1964) married Leslie Hall Wright on 6 June 1914
• Isabella Maxwell (6 February 1887 – 1978) twin sister

They had a home at College Road, Kent Town, then "Woodlands", in Edwardstown, South Australia. He had a sister, Mrs. George Finnister of Adelaide.