This paper presents an optimum control of the field resistance for the self-excited DC shunt generator to keep a constant terminal voltage in case of the load change or the torque variation in the system. The non-linearity of the system is linearized by applying the small signal technique and the linearized equation is solved by the maximum principle with the digital computer. The optimal control value of the field resistance for the step error of the generator output voltage is obtained and the transient voltage characteristics in the system are investigated.