Indeed, Maxwell was a nerd just as to how most scientists & other geniuses were in their younger years. Does Bill Gates ring a bell? (Though Bill no longer looks nerdy nowadays unlike +20 yrs. ago.)

An exceptionally handsome man in his teens, he however dressed quite nerdly, he had very peculiar interests (you can count the girls out!:), he had such terrible social skills but fared well with the teachers, & etc. All of these are typical traits of a nerd.

But back in his time, the British Empire was at its peak & its dominions stretched across the planet. It also marked the Industrial Age which is perhaps the greatest age in mankind's history as it ushered the dawn of modernity & progress.