George Maxwell (administrator)

Sir George Maxwell KBE CMG
British Adviser for Kedah
In office 1909–1915
Preceded by	none, post created
Succeeded by	Littleton Edward Pipe-Wolferstan
British Adviser for Kedah
In office 1918–1919
Preceded by	G.A. Hall
Succeeded by	Malcolm Stewart Hannibal McArthur
British Resident of Perak
In office 1919–1921
Preceded by	Sir Reginald George Watson
Succeeded by	Sir William James Parke Hume
Personal details
Born	June 9, 1871 Malacca, Straits Settlements
Died	August 22,1959 Shoreham, Sussex, England
Spouse(s)	Lady Evelyn Maxwell
Religion	Christian

Sir (William) George Maxwell KBE, CMG was born June 9, 1871 in Malacca and died August 22, 1959. He was the eldest son of William Edward Maxwell and Lilias Grant Mackay. Sir George was a colonial administrator in British Malaya and Straits Settlements. His father W.E. Maxwell was a famous colonial officer in British Malaya, who held the post as British High Commissioners in Malaya and Governor of Straits Settlements.

Career

Sir George entered the service of the Perak Government as a junior officer in 1891. He then progressed to Assistant District Magistrate and Registrar of Courts in Kinta Valley (Perak). He was also the Assistant Secretary to the Government of Perak, Acting Collector of Land Revenue in Larut, Registrar of Titles and Warden of Mines in Northern Perak and Acting Senior Magistrate for Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Perak. In 1904, he was transferred to the Civil Service of Straits Settlements and was Acting Commissioner of the Court of Requests in Singapore.

He was posted as the District Officer of Dinding, Perak, Solicitor General (1906). On 9 July 1909 the Bangkok Agreement, which was ratified by the British and Siamese, made Kedah part of the British Empire and he was then appointed British Adviser to Kedah (1909–1915) and (1918–1919). He was also the British Resident of Perak (1919–1921) and Chief Secretary of Federated Malay States (1921–1926).

Contributions and Honours

On 29 November 1929 he opened the Sultan Idris Training College in Perak and making it the highest institution of learning exclusively for the Malays at that time. In order to remember his contributions in education SMK Maxwell (Maxwell School) in Kuala Lumpur was named after him. He was knighted with KBE in 1924 and carried the title "Sir". In order to remember his contributions in Perak, Maxwell Hill in Taiping was also named after him.

Sources and references

• WorldStatesmen - Malaysia
• Maxwell family tree

Political offices
Preceded by Sir Reginald George Watson	British Resident of Perak 1919 – 1921	Succeeded by Sir William James Parke Hume