William Maxwell was born in Market Street, Newry, County Down, and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. He was ordained in Carlow in 1813 and the same year became curate of Clonallon, near Newry. Claims that he fought in the Peninsular War and at the Battle of Waterloo, which were published in his obituary in the Illustrated London News, have been refuted, his tales of military life were rather gleaned from his socialising with, principally, officers of the Newry garrison.. In 1820 he was appointed Rector of Balla, County Mayo. He made contributions to many periodicals, but he was primarily a novelist and his titles include Wild Sports of the West and Stories of Waterloo. He also published a History of the Irish Rebellion of 1798 and the Life of Wellington. He died in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh.

Born:	30 June 1791
Died:	28 December 1850