William Edward Maxwell


Sir William Edward Maxwell, was a British colonial official who served as colonial secretary of the Straits Settlements and governor of the Gold Coast, then a British colony.

Early days

Born on 5 August 1846, William Edward Maxwell was the son of Sir Peter Benson Maxwell, the chief justice of the Straits Settlements.

Career

Straits Settlements

Maxwell followed his father into the legal profession, and also served in the courts of the Straits Settlements.
In 1883, Maxwell was appointed the commissioner of land titles in the Straits Settlements, to be a member of the Executive and Legislative Councils of those settlements.
In 1889, he was appointed the resident of Selangor. He became the colonial secretary of the Straits Settlements in 1892, and was acting governor from 30 August 1893 to 1 February 1894.

Anglo-Ashanti War

In 1895, Maxwell was promoted to the governorship of the Gold Coast. Under his governorship the British declared war on the Asante Empire, the fourth Anglo-Ashanti War, known as the "Second Ashanti Expedition" in 1895.
An earlier treaty signed by the Asantes in 1874, the terms of which were widely considered absurd and unenforceable, was invoked by Maxwell. When the Asante king, Asantehene Agyeman Prempeh, could not meet the terms, Maxwell had him arrested, together with his mother, father, brother, uncles and a dozen advisors. They were later exiled to the Seychelles, not returning to the Gold Coast until the 1920s.

Death and legacy

Suffering malaria, Maxwell died at sea off the Canary Islands and was buried at sea. He had married Lillias Grant Aberigh-Mackay in 1870, and left issue. At the Holy [Trinity Cathedral (Accra)|Holy Trinity Cathedral], Accra in Ghana a memorial tablet to him exists. It reads:
"To the glory of God in memory of Sir William Maxwell KCMG Governor of the Gold Coast Colony, who sacrificed his life to his unselfish devotion to duty. Under his rule the Kingdom of Ashanti was brought under British control. In impaired health he undertook an expedition to the northern territories of the colony to extend peace and protection to slave raided tribes and contracted fever of which to the undying regret of all who knew him died on the voyage home. Born 5th August 1846. Died 14th December 1897. 'Neither count I my life dear unto myself so that I might finish my course.'"
An excerpt from the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 1899 In Memoriam reads:
"The work he did for the Society is not, however, to be only judged by what he did under its auspices and in its name. He contributed to the Royal Asiatic Society's journal some interesting notes on Malay legends, and he wrote a Manual of the Malay Language which has done much to facilitate a scholarly acquisition of the idioms in which he took so deep an interest. He was in some measure acquainted with Arabic and Sanskrit, but will best be remembered for his work in connection with indigenous elements of the Malay language, it's traditions and folklore. He collected a fine library of Malay MSS., which he has bequeathed to the Royal Asiatic Society. A great advocate of scholarly method, he did much to draw attention to the material that exists, in Dutch and other foreign languages, for the proper study of Malay."
Under the terms of his last will, he requested his niece to burn his private letters and diaries without examination, which was undertaken.

Awards and honours

Maxwell was invested with Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1885 and Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1896.

Published works

  • A Manual of the Malay Language,

Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society

List
  • Aboriginal tribes of Perak, IV. 46—50.
  • Achin, Letter of King of, to James IL N.& Q., III. 63.
  • Bentinck, Visit of Lord William, to Penang in 1828. N.& Q., II. 31.
  • Birth Ceremonies in Perak, N.& Q., III, 74—79.
  • Cambodia, French Land Decree in, XV, 81—92.
  • Ceremonies when shooting rapids, N.& Q., IV. 124,
  • Changkat Rambian, Legend of, N.& Q., I. 19—22,
  • Chiri, X. 287—289.
  • "Cochin China, Survey question in," M. Camouilly, Translation of, XVIII. 271—294.
  • Cockup, N.& Q., IV, 100.
  • Daun tiga ‘lei, N.& Q., I. 23—34,
  • Dindings, Dutch occupations of. XI. 169—170.
  • Dress, Fighting, of Malays, N.& Q., II. 53.
  • Elephant, Modes of sitting in driving, N.& Q., I. 10.
  • Elephants, Management of, N.& Q., II. 32—36.
  • Faure’s Dictionary, Notes on criticism of, by Devic and Marre. XII. 257—259.
  • Feudal tenure in the Dutch East Indies in I7th Century, XVI, 436—438.
  • Folklore of Malays, VII. 11—29.
  • Galgal, N.& Q., IV. 100.
  • Ganju, N.& Q., I. 22—23.
  • Gelagah nasi, N.& Q., II. 48.
  • Hikayat Seri Rama, Preface to, LV. 1—99.
  • Howdah, Malay, N.& Q., II. 52.
  • Jalibut, N.& Q., IV. 99—100.
  • Jam, N.& Q., IV. 101.
  • Johor, N.& Q., I. 10.
  • Ketiar, N.& Q., IV. 97—98.
  • Kramat, A. Malay, II, 236—238.
  • Kubang Aji, Legend of, N.& Q., II. 49—50.
  • Law and Customs of Malays with reference to tenure of land, XIII. 75—220.
  • Laws relating to slavery among Malays, with extracts from Perak Code and Malayan laws of Johore, XII. 247—297,
  • Loads, Mode of carrying, N.& Q., IV. 121.
  • Magic circle, N.& Q. II. 49.
  • Malays, N.& Q., IV. 98.
  • Malay, Transliteration of, in Roman character, IX. 141—152.
  • Malay Transliteration, Notes to memorandum on, X. 282—284.
  • Mantra, N.& Q., IV. 124—126,
  • Mantra Sandaran, N.& Q., II. 46—47.
  • Marong Mahawangsa, Extract from, IX. 85—89.
  • Medicine N.& Q., I, 23—24.
  • Menangkabau Code, N.& Q., II. 36—38.
  • Nakhoda Ragam, N.& Q., I. 22.
  • "New Guinea, "Work and Adventure in 1877-1885", Chambers and Gill, Review of, XV. 145—154 A,
  • Ophir, N.& Q., I. 8.
  • Orchids, Origin of. N.& Q., II, 51.
  • Pagar, N.& Q., IV, 98
  • Panjat, N.& Q. IV, 118—120.
  • Patani frontier, Journey on foot to, in 1876, to capture Dato Maharaja Lela of Perak, IX. 1—67.
  • Pelas Negri, N.& Q., III. 80—81.
  • Perak and Penang in 1829, N.& Q., II. 29—30,
  • Perak, Dutch in. N.& Q., II. 3l; X. 245—268,
  • Perak, English trade with, N.& Q., IV, 103.
  • Perak, History of, from native sources, IX. 85—108; XIV, 305—321.
  • Perak, Malay titles in Ulu. N.& Q., Ill. 70.
  • Perak manuscripts, Notes on two, II. 183—193.
  • Perak Salsilah or Book of descent, IX. 95—108; XXIV, 305—321.
  • Perak, Titles and offices of the officers of state of, N.& Q., I. 6-8,
  • Portuguese origin, Malay words of, N.& Q., III. 64—70,
  • Prince or princess of bamboo, XVIII. 357—358.
  • Proverbs, Malay, I, 85—98; II, 136—162; III. 19-51; XI. 31-82.
  • Province Wellesley, Antiquities of, I. ll4.
  • Province Wellesley, Journey from, to Selama in 1874, XIX. 120—123.
  • Pulau Lankawi, XIX. 27—33.
  • Pulau Tunggal, Legend of, N.& Q., II. 50—51.
  • Rajah Ambong, Malay fairy tale, text and translation, XIX. 55—71.
  • Raja Donan, Malay fairy tale, text and translation, XVIII. 240—269.
  • Raja Haji, Romanised text and translation, XXII. 173—224.
  • Raja of the bamboo, N.& Q., IV. 121—123.
  • Rembau, N.& Q., III. 63.
  • Sang Kalembai, N.& Q., II. 51.
  • Seals of Johore and Pahang in 1819, N.& Q., IV. 114.
  • Selangor, Ruling family of, extract from Selangor Administration Report, 1889, XXII. 321—329.
  • Senna, N.& Q., IV. 116—118.
  • Serawa Langut, N.& Q., II. 48.
  • Shamanism in Perak, XII, 222—232.
  • Singapore, Founding of, N.& Q., IV. 104—113.
  • Spirits and Demons, Belief in, N.& Q., IV. 104—113.
  • Sri Rama, Malay fairy tale founded on the Ramayana, Text and translation, XVII. 86—115.
  • Sulu vocabulary, Notes to, by T. H. Haynes, XVI. 321—384,
  • Temikei, Mendikei, Kamendikei, N.& Q., IV. 98.
  • Toh Kuala Bidor, Legend of, N.& Q., II. 47 — 48.