Editing Gavin Maxwell (section)

==Early life==
[[File:Elrig House - geograph.org.uk - 545963.jpg|thumb|upright=1.45|left|The "House of Elrig" – Gavin Maxwell's childhood home. Arylick farm to right and [[Elrig]] Loch in the background.]]

Gavin Maxwell was the youngest son of Lieutenant-Colonel Aymer Maxwell and Lady Mary Percy, fifth daughter of the [[Henry Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland|seventh Duke of Northumberland]].<ref name="Rocks">''The Rocks Remain'', Gavin Maxwell, Longmans, 1963, ASIN: B0000CLY9N</ref> His paternal grandfather, [[Sir Herbert Maxwell, 7th Baronet]], was an [[Archaeology|archaeologist]], politician and natural historian.<ref name="Rocks" />

Maxwell was born at The House of Elrig near the small village of [[Elrig]], near [[Port William, Scotland|Port William]], in [[Wigtownshire]], south-western Scotland. Maxwell's relatives still live in the area and the family's ancient [[Estate (house)|estate and grounds]] are in nearby [[Monreith House|Monreith]].

Maxwell's education took place at a succession of [[Preparatory school (UK)|preparatory]] and [[Public School (United Kingdom)|public school]]s, including the sporty [[Heddon Court School]]<ref name="Brendon2009">{{cite book |last=Brendon |first=Vyvyen |title=Prep School Children: A Class Apart Over Two Centuries |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7sNA32_K5rwC&pg=PA93 |date=2009 |publisher=A&C Black |isbn=978-1-84706-287-1 |page=93}}</ref> at [[East Barnet]], [[St Cyprian's School]], where he found encouragement for his interest in [[natural history]], and [[Stowe School]]. In ''The Rocks Remain'', he relates how family pressure led him to take a degree in Estate Management at [[Hertford College, Oxford]], where he spent his time pursuing sporting and leisure activities instead of studying. He cheated his way through the intermediate exams but passed the [[final examination]]s honestly, having [[Cramming (education)|crammed]] the entire three-year course in six weeks.<ref name="Rocks" />

[[Image:Soaybaskingsharkfisheries.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Former HQ of The Island of [[Soay, Skye|Soay]] Shark Fisheries Ltd, started by Maxwell]]
[[File:Exterior of 9 Paultons Square, London.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|A blue plaque commemorating Maxwell as a writer and naturalist at the house where he lived in [[Paultons Square]] in [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]], London]]

During [[World War II]], Maxwell served as an instructor with the [[Special Operations Executive]]. He was invalided out with the rank of Major in 1944. After the war, he purchased the Isle of [[Soay, Skye|Soay]] off [[Isle of Skye|Skye]] in the [[Inner Hebrides]], Scotland. According to his book ''Harpoon at a Venture'' (1952), poor planning and a lack of finance meant his attempt to establish a [[basking shark]] fishery there between 1945 and 1948 proved unsuccessful and the island was sold to his business partner, [[Tex Geddes]].  Living in London, he became a close friend of British-Swiss Nobel Prize winner [[Elias Canetti]].{{cn|date=March 2025}}