Alexander Maitland (Scottish politician) facts for kids
Alexander Arbuthnot, who later changed his name to Maitland, was an important person in Scottish law and politics. He was born in 1674 and passed away in 1721. After Scotland and England joined together in 1707, he became a special judge called a Baron of the Court of Exchequer in Scotland.
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Early Life and Family
Alexander Arbuthnot was the son of Robert Arbuthnot, who was the second Viscount of Arbuthnott. His mother was Katherine Gordon.
Marriage and Inheriting a New Name
Alexander married Jean, who was the oldest daughter of Sir Charles Maitland. Her family owned a large estate called Pittrichie in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. When Jean's brother, also named Sir Charles Maitland, passed away in 1704, Jean became the heir to the Pittrichie estate. Because of this, Alexander and Jean inherited the estate. To honor his wife's family and the new estate, Alexander took on the surname Maitland and also adopted their family crest, known as a coat of arms.
A Career in Law and Politics
Alexander Maitland had a busy career in both law and government.
Becoming a Lawyer
In 1697, he became a member of the Faculty of Advocates. This was a group of highly skilled lawyers in Scotland.
Serving in Parliament
Before Scotland and England officially joined, Alexander was the leader, or Provost, of a town called Bervie. He also represented the town of Inverbervie in the Scottish Parliament from 1702 to 1707.
Joining the British Parliament
When Scotland and England united in 1707, a new Parliament was formed for Great Britain. Alexander was chosen as one of the 45 representatives from Scotland to join this new Parliament.
Becoming a Judge
From 1708 until his death, Alexander served as a Baron of the Exchequer. This was a significant role, meaning he was a judge in a special court that handled money matters for the government.
His Children
Alexander and Jean Maitland had one son and three daughters. Their son, Charles Maitland, also became a Member of Parliament (MP). However, Charles never married and passed away in Edinburgh in 1751. All three of their daughters also remained unmarried.
