Constituency Dates
Haddington Burghs 16 July 1813 – 18
Berwickshire 1826 – 1832
Family and Education
b. 10 June 1785, 2nd s. of James Maitland, 8th Earl of Lauderdale [S] and 1st Baron Lauderdale [UK], by Eleanor, da. and h. of Anthony Todd, sec. to the GPO, of Walthamstow, Essex; bro. of James Maitland, Visct. Maitland. unm. CB 19 Sept. 1816; KCMG 26 Feb. 1820; KCB 6 Apr. 1832; GCB 10 Nov. 1862. suc. bro. James as 10th Earl of Lauderdale [S] and 3rd Baron Lauderdale [UK] 22 Aug. 1860.
Offices Held

Entered RN 1795, midshipman 1798, lt. 1805, cdr. 1806, capt. 1806, half-pay 1821, r.-adm. 1841, v.-adm. 1862; naval a.d.c. to William IV 1830 – 37, to Queen Victoria 1837–41.

Address
Main residence: Thirlstane Castle, Berwick.
biography text

As a midshipman in the navy, Maitland was wounded in action against the Boulogne flotilla. He received rapid promotion while his father’s friends were in office in 1806, but his career stagnated thereafter. In 1813 he replaced his uncle Thomas as Member for Haddington Burghs on the family interest. When present, he followed the family line of supporting opposition, though by vote and not by speech. He was in their divisions against the resumption of war, 25 May 1815; against the Regent’s expenditure, 31 May; against the address, 1 Feb. 1816, and against continental treaties of alliance, 20 Feb. On 18 Mar. he voted against the property tax and several other times in the next month for retrenchment. On 26 Apr. and 20 June he voted in the minorities on Irish questions. He voted against the suspension of habeas corpus, 28 Feb.; for inquiry into the economic depression, 13 Mar.; against Canning’s embassy to Lisbon, 6 May; in favour of Catholic relief, 9 May, and against the civil services compensation bill, 19 May 1817. On 16 June he joined Brooks’s Club.

Maitland gave up his seat for family convenience in 1818 and remained out of Parliament until 1826. He died 22 Mar. 1863.

Author
R.G.T.
Volume
Commons 1790-1820