“Goodbye” Robert Maxwell Died 5 November 1991

Ian Robert Maxwell, MC (10 June 1923 – 5 November 1991) was a Czechoslovakian-born British media proprietor and Member of Parliament (MP).

From humble beginnings in Czechoslovakia, Robert Maxwell became one of Britain’s richest men. He enlisted in the British army during World War II and was decorated for bravery. He subsequently worked for the Foreign Office before building his business empire.

In 1984 he achieved a long-held ambition to own a national newspaper when he bought the Daily Mirror. Maxwell also purchased a New York paper, the Daily News, which had been on the brink of closure.

But at the same time he was being forced to sell off companies to reduce his debts, prompting criticism of his business methods.

On 5 November 1991, his body was found in the sea off the coast of Tenerife at approximately 1800 local time (1700 GMT) and flown to Gran Canaria for identification.

The publisher had been cruising in the Canary Isles aboard his luxury yacht, the Ghislaine.

He is thought to have gone overboard early that morning but was not reported missing until about 1100 local time (1000 GMT) when he failed to answer a telephone call.

Two helicopters, rescue launches and a dozen ships were then sent to the area to assist in the search.