MAXIM, Hudson, American inventor and engineer: b. Orneville, Me., 3 Feb. 1853. He received an academic education with especial reference to the natural sciences and engineer ing, then took up the study of medicine; en tered the printing and subscription book pub lishing business at Pittsfield, Mass., in 1883, but gave up the publishing business in 1888 to take up business of ordnance and explosives. He was the first to make smokeless gunpowder in the United States and was the first to sub mit samples to the government for trial. In 1890 he built a dynamite factory and smoke less powder mill at Maxim, N. J. named for him. It was there that the multi-perforated smokeless powder was developed and perfected under his inventions and patents, which was adopted by the United States government. These patents were purchased by the E. I. du Pont de Nemours Powder Company, of Wilmington, Del., in 1897. He invented the process of making calcium carbide by incan descence of molten carbide conductor, now in general use. In 1901 he sold United States government the secret of the high explosive Maximite invented by him (see EXPLOSIVES) ; invented United States service detonating fuse for high explosive projectiles. He invented
the system of driving torpedoes by steam and products of combustion of a self-combustive compound called motorite, the steam being gen erated by the motorite. This system was pur chased by the United States navy. Since 1898 he has been consulting engineer for E. I. du Pont de Nemours Powder Company. He in vented stabillite (q.v.), a smokeless powder made without volatile solvent, which con sequently requires no drying. He received the degree of D.Sc. from Heidelberg University, Ohio. in 1913. . He is member of consulting board of United States navy; of Albany Bur gesses Corps (rank, captain) ; of Military Serv ice Institution; of Society of Chemical Indus try; of Chemists Club; of Aeronautical Society •, Fellow A. A. A. S., of Society of Applied Psychology. He is author of The Science of Poet and the Philosophy of Language' (1910) ) ; 'Defenseless America' (1915).