Robert Maxwell (born Ján Ludvík Hyman Binyamin Hoch)

Czechoslovak-born British-French media proprietor, politician, and former Member of Parliament who built a publishing empire. Died under mysterious circumstances in 1991.

Key Relationships

Owned

• Organization Pergamon Press - Maxwell built up Pergamon Press to a major academic publisher, later losing and regaining control of the company. Multiple Sources
• Organization Mirror Group Newspapers - Maxwell acquired Mirror Group Newspapers in July 1984 for £113 million. Multiple Sources
• Organization New York Daily News - Maxwell purchased the New York Daily News in 1991 using funds from selling Pergamon. Multiple Sources
• Organization Macmillan Inc. - Maxwell purchased Macmillan Inc. in 1988 for $2.6 billion. Multiple Sources
• Organization Derby County - Maxwell bought into Derby County in 1987. Multiple Sources
• Organization British Printing Corporation (BPC) - Maxwell acquired the British Printing Corporation in 1981. Multiple Sources
• Organization Oxford United - Maxwell was chairman of Oxford United and led the club to League Cup victory in 1986. Multiple Sources
• Financial Entity Ghislaine Corporation - Maxwell owned a luxury yacht named Lady Ghislaine, named after his daughter. Multiple Sources

Located At

• Location Headington Hill Hall - Maxwell lived at Headington Hill Hall in Oxford. Multiple Sources
• Location Slatinské Doly (now Solotvyno, Ukraine) - Maxwell was born in Slatinské Doly, Czechoslovakia (now Solotvyno, Ukraine). Multiple Sources
• Location Mount of Olives, Jerusalem - Maxwell was buried on Jerusalem's Mount of Olives. Multiple Sources

Associated With

• Document PROMIS software - Maxwell was allegedly involved in distributing a bugged version of PROMIS software to facilitate spying. Alleged
• Organization Labour Party - Maxwell was a Labour Member of Parliament for Buckingham from 1964 to 1970. Multiple Sources
• Organization Sandia National Laboratories - Maxwell allegedly facilitated the sale of bugged PROMIS software to Sandia National Laboratories. Alleged
• Organization Los Alamos National Laboratory - Maxwell allegedly facilitated the sale of bugged PROMIS software to Los Alamos National Laboratory. Alleged
• Person John Tower - Maxwell allegedly employed John Tower to facilitate PROMIS software sales. Alleged
• Person William Benyon - Maxwell lost his parliamentary seat to William Benyon in 1970. Multiple Sources
• Person Nicolae Ceaușescu - Maxwell interviewed Romanian communist leader Nicolae Ceaușescu for a biography. Multiple Sources
• Person Joe Haines - Joe Haines wrote Maxwell's authorized biography after initially criticizing him but then coming under Maxwell's influ... Multiple Sources
• Person Clive Sinclair - Maxwell announced a takeover of Clive Sinclair's company Sinclair Research in 1985, which was aborted. Multiple Sources
• Organization Manchester United - Maxwell attempted to buy Manchester United in 1984 but refused the asking price. Multiple Sources
• Organization MI6 - Maxwell has been suspected of having ties to British intelligence agency MI6. Alleged
• Person Elie Wiesel - Maxwell's authorized biography claimed he was a distant relative of Elie Wiesel, though The Dispatch could not substa... Single Source
• Person Elisabeth Meynard (Betty) - Maxwell married Elisabeth Meynard in 1945 and had nine children with her. Multiple Sources
• Organization News of the World - Maxwell attempted but failed to acquire the News of the World in 1969. Multiple Sources
• Organization Private Eye - Maxwell was involved in libel actions against Private Eye magazine which lampooned him. Multiple Sources
• Person Harold Wilson - Harold Wilson was Prime Minister under whom Maxwell served as an MP and who devised the nickname 'bouncing Czech'. Multiple Sources
• Organization KGB - Maxwell has been suspected of having ties to Soviet intelligence agency KGB. Alleged
• Organization Israeli Intelligence - Maxwell has been suspected of having ties to Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. Alleged

Source Documents & Evidence