Robert Maxwell (born Ján Ludvík Hyman Binyamin Hoch on June 10, 1923, in Slatinske Doly, Czechoslovakia, died November 5, 1991) was a Czechoslovakian-born British media proprietor, businessman, and Member of Parliament. Born into a poor, Orthodox Jewish family, he escaped Nazi persecution and joined the Czechoslovak Army in exile during World War II before serving in the British Army. He built a vast publishing empire, most notably through Pergamon Press, which became a major academic publisher.
Maxwell's career included six years as a Labour MP in the 1960s, after which he focused on expanding his business interests, acquiring the British Printing Corporation, Mirror Group Newspapers, and Macmillan Inc.. He was known for his flamboyant lifestyle, residing in Headington Hill Hall, Oxford, and sailing on his yacht, the "Lady Ghislaine". Maxwell was a controversial figure, known for his abrasive behavior and litigiousness. Allegations of espionage, with suspected ties to MI6, KGB, and Mossad, further fueled his enigmatic persona. In November 1991, his body was found floating in the Atlantic Ocean after he apparently fell from his yacht. His death was followed by revelations of significant financial irregularities, including the misappropriation of millions from his companies' pension funds.
