Maxim, maybe, of many an American (5)

I believe the answer is:

hiram

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'american' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'maxim maybe of many an' is the wordplay.
'maxim maybe' becomes 'hir' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'of' indicates anagramming the letters (the answer comes from or 'of' the letters).
'many' becomes 'm' (Roman numeral for a thousand).
'an' becomes 'a'.
'm'+'a'='ma'
'ma' with letters rearranged gives 'am'.
'hir'+'am'='HIRAM'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for hiram that I've seen before include "I gave Solomon materials for Temple" , "He supplied temple builders" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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