1-157-209 - Oxford Science Archive/Heritage Images

Hiram Stevens Maxim, American-born British inventor and engineer, 1904. Whilst resident in America, Maxim (1840-1916) took out patents for, among other things, gas apparatus and electric lamps. In 1881, he emigrated to England where he perfected his 'Maxim' machine-gun in 1883. He also invented a pneumatic gun, a smokeless powder, a mousetrap, carbon filaments for light bulbs and, in 1894, a flying machine. Cartoon from Vanity Fair, London, 15 December 1904.