William Hamilton Maxwell (30 June 1792 in Newry, County Down, Ireland – 29 December 1850 in Musselburgh, Scotland) was an Irish novelist, historian and clergyman.

[1] Maxwell William Hamilton, son of merchant James Maxwell and his wife, a daughter of William Hamilton, was born on June 30, 1792, in Market Street, Newry, County Down.

Educated at David Henderson's Newry school and also Trinity College, Dublin, where he commenced his tertiary learning.

[1] He claimed to have entered the British Army and seen service in the Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo, but this is generally believed to be untrue.

After his ordination in 1813, he was first assigned to the humble curacy of Clonallon, overlooking Carlingford Bay.