Maxwell, Lady Darcy, an eminently pious IMeth- odist, who by birth and rank belonged to the nobility of Scotland, is noted for her great works of philanthropy. She was the youngest daughter of Thomas Brisbane, County of Ayr, and was born about the year 1742. In lier own home she received the rudiments of an educa- tion, but subsequently completed it in the city of Edin- burgh. At the age of sixteen she resided for a time in London with her uncle and aunt, lord and lady Lothian, to enjoy tlie advantages of being presented at court. In 1759. iMjiiii after her return from London, she married Sir Walter ?ilaxwell. This union seemed to open before her a bewildering vista of future joys and happiness; but only for two short years did she realize her bright anticipations; at the end of that period her husband and child were taken from her, and she was loft a widow at nineteen. When tidings of her little one's death, with- in six weeks after that of her husband, were conveyed to her, without any outburst of grief,^or even a murmur, she exclaimed, " I see God requires my whole heart, and he shall have it !" " God brought me to himself bv afflic- tion," she frequently said. It was while overwhelmed by these heavy trials that she became acquainted with
the Methodists. The early ministrj'- of John Wesley and George Whltefield was generally respected in Scot- land. Many of the higher classes approved their labors ; ministers of the Establishment, members of the univer- sity, and persons of rank and title mingled in their aud- iences. It is supposed that some of the pious nobility, ailmirers of Wesley and Whitetield, first induced lady Maxwell to hear them. However that may be, it is certain that on June 16, 1764, INIr. Wesley preached to a large congregation in Edinburgh, and from that time corresponded with her ladyship, his influence aiding greatly in regulating her views, and guiding her deter- minations through life. From the time of her husband's death she had resided in Edinburgh or the vicinity. Her benevolence here was imusually great. Seeking to relieve misery in every form, there was scarcely a pub- lic or private charity for the repose of age or the guid- ance of youth, the relief of the poor, the care of the sick, or the spread of the Gospel, to which she did not con- tribute. In 1770 she established a school in Edinburgh for the purpose of affording education and Christian in- struction to poor children — this school was ahvays the object of her pious solicitude; its entire management and superintendence remained with herself, and, as the benefits flowing from it became manifest, pecuniary aid was furnished by others. At the time of her death eight hundred children had profited by this praisewor- thy charity, and it is still in active operation. The employment of her time each day was exceedingly ex- emplary ; she usually rose at four o'clock, and attended the Wesleyan chapel at five, morning preaching being then cutsomar}' ; after breakfast she discharged the du- ties of the head of a family in her own house ; from eleven to twelve she spent the time in interceding with GckI for her friends, the Church, and the world ; the re- maining hours of the day she devoted to reading, writ- ing, exercise, and acts of benevolence. Her evenings, when alone, were occupied with reading, chiefly divin- ity; and, after an early supper, and committing her family to the care of the great Father who watches over all, and spending some time in praising God for his mer- cies, she retired to rest. In this manner, for nearly fifty years, she walked with her God. Her outward relig- ious life had its varieties, but they were the varie- ties of advance ; her inner religious life also had its changes, but they were those of the beautiful morn- ing, which shines brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. In person, lady Maxwell was above the medium height, exceedingly straight and well propor- tioned; her features quite feminine, but strongly mtel- ligent; her eye quick and penetrating, yet sweet and tender. She died July 2, 1810, passing away as peace- fully and joyfully as she had lived : the society to which she belonged losing its oldest member, the world one of its best inhabitants, and the Church luiiversal one of its brightest ornaments. See Lancaster, Life of Lady Max- well (N. Y. 1840, 12mo) ; Coles, Heroines of Methodism, p. 76.
Maxwell, Robert, one of the Scottish lords of the regency during the absence of James V in France, de- serves a place here for his action in the first Parliament of j\Iary queen of Scots (1543), where he introduced a bill to allow the reading of the Scriptures in the vulgar tongue, which was passed in spite of the opposition of the lord chancellor, the bishops, and priests. He died in 1546.
Maxwell, Samuel, an American divine and edu- cator, was born in Berkshire County, Mass., about 1805 ; was educated at Amherst College (class of 1829) ; sub- sequently became principal of the preparatory' depart- ment of Marietta College, Ohio, and later a professor in the collegiate department of the same institution, and remained there until iiis death, which occurred January 24, 1867. He w.as also in the employ of the American Missiduary Association in his last years.