John Maitland, 1st Earl of Lauderdale facts for kids
John Maitland (died January 1645) was an important Scottish leader. He was the President of the Scottish Parliament and the Privy Council, which was like a special group of advisors to the King. He was also a lawyer and a judge. During the Civil War in England, he chose to support the Parliament's side.
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Early Life and Family
John Maitland was the son of Sir John Maitland, 1st Lord Thirlestane, who was also a Lord. His mother was Jean Fleming. He became a member of the Privy Council of Scotland on July 20, 1615.
Becoming a Scottish Noble
On April 2, 1616, John Maitland was given the title Viscount of Lauderdale. This title was passed down to his male children and their families.
Later, he became the President of the Privy Council. On June 5, 1618, he was made an Ordinary Lord of Session, which meant he was a judge. At this time, he also helped with church matters as a Commissioner for the Plantation of Kirks.
On March 14, 1624, in London, he received even higher titles. He was made Earl of Lauderdale, Viscount Maitland, and Lord Thirlestane and Boltoun.
Later Life and Career
On February 14, 1626, Lord Lauderdale was removed from his judge position. This happened because King Charles I decided that no nobleman should be an ordinary judge. Instead, on June 1, he was made an Extraordinary Lord of Session. These special judge roles were often given to nobles or important church leaders. He stayed in this role until November 8, 1628. The next year, he joined the Lords of the Articles, a group that helped prepare laws for Parliament.
In 1639, he built Brunstane House near Edinburgh. This was a new, grand home for his family.
Even though the King had given him many honors, when the English Civil War began, John Maitland decided to support the Parliament. He was involved in many important tasks for their cause.
On June 4, 1644, he was chosen to be the President of the Parliament. He was re-elected on January 7 of the next year. He passed away before January 20, 1645. He was buried in his family's special burial place inside St. Mary's Collegiate Church, Haddington.
Marriage and Children
John Maitland married Lady Isabel Seton, who passed away in November 1638. She was the daughter of Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline. They had a large family, but only three sons and one daughter lived longer than their parents.
Titles and Positions Held
| Peerage of Scotland | ||
|---|---|---|
| New creation | Earl of Lauderdale 1624–1645 |
Succeeded by John Maitland |
| Viscount of Lauderdale 1616–1645 |
||
| Preceded by John Maitland |
Lord Maitland of Thirlestane 1595–1645 |
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