Hudson Maxim

author

Hudson Maxim

1853–1927

An inventive mind from the early modern age of science and engineering, he became known for work on explosives and smokeless powder while also writing and speaking widely on military and public affairs. His life sits at the crossroads of invention, industry, and the debates of his era.

2 Audiobooks

Dynamite Stories, and Some Interesting Facts About Explosives

Dynamite Stories, and Some Interesting Facts About Explosives

by Hudson Maxim

Defenseless America

Defenseless America

by Hudson Maxim

About the author

Born in Maine in 1853, Hudson Maxim was an American inventor and chemist best known for developing explosives, including smokeless powder. He was the brother of Hiram Stevens Maxim, the inventor of the Maxim machine gun, and he built a reputation of his own as a prolific experimenter with a wide range of technical interests.

Beyond laboratory work, he was also a public writer and commentator. He published books and articles on war, technology, and society, bringing scientific and military subjects to a broader audience in a direct, forceful style.

Maxim died in 1927. Today he is remembered as one of those larger-than-life figures from the age of invention: restless, outspoken, and deeply involved in the scientific and industrial questions of his time.