Maitland, James, -1996

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Title: 9th Earl of Lauderdale

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001032.0x0001a8

Epithet: son of W Maitland, of Lethington

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001032.0x0001a6

Epithet: Chancellor of Scotland

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Epithet: goldsmith

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James Maitland was born at Hatton House, near Ratho, Midlothian, on 26 January 1759. He was the second son of James Maitland, 7th Earl of Lauderdale. He was educated at the Royal High School in Edinburgh, and he studied at Edinburgh University. In 1774 he visited Paris and in 1775 matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford, before studying at Glasgow University. In 1777 he became a student at Lincoln's Inn, London, and became a member of the Faculty of Advocates in 1780. A political career began in September 1780 when, after the General Election, he was returned as the MP for Newport, Cornwall. From 1784 he was the MP for Malmesbury. In 1789, Maitland succeeded to the Earldom on the death of his father, and in 1790 he was elected as a Scottish representative peer at the House of Lords. Between 1796 and 1806 he was not present at the Lords and during this period he attempted to become a Sheriff in London. During these years too he published the successful Inquiry into the nature and origin of public wealth, and, into the means and causes of its increase (1804) which was translated in French and Italian. In 1806, Maitland was back in the House of Lords and he was appointed Lord High Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland and he was sworn to the Privy Council. From 1807 he became an active member of the opposition in the Lords and chief among the Whig party in Scotland. In 1821 he was awarded the Order of the Thistle. He spoke for the last time in the Lords in July 1830. James Maitland, 8th Earl of Lauderdale, died at Thirlestane Castle, Lauder, Berwickshire, on 13 September 1839. He was buried at Haddington on 20 September 1839.

From the guide to the Correspondence relating to James Maitland, 8th Earl of Lauderdale (1759-1839), 1798-1836, (Edinburgh University Library)

Epithet: of Add MS 35125

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001197.0x000190

Title: 8th Earl of Lauderdale

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000815.0x00013c

Title: 7th Earl of Lauderdate

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Epithet: Lieutenant-Colonel; Acting Military Auditor - General, Ceylon

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Death 1996-08-20

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