Earl of Lauderdale


Earl of Lauderdale is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. The current holder of the title is Ian Maitland, 18th Earl of Lauderdale.

History

The title was created in 1624 for John Maitland, 2nd Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, Berwickshire.
The second Earl was created Duke of Lauderdale and by popular naming represented the "L" in the Cabal ministry, an acronym which amounted to the first major, perennial delegation of power from the monarch to a cabinet. When he died without male issue, the dukedom became extinct. The earldom passed to his brother Charles, 3rd Earl. Charles married, in 1652, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Lauder of Haltoun and by this marriage came into that family's great estates.
Other titles associated with the earldom are: Viscount of Lauderdale, Viscount of Maitland, Lord Maitland of Thirlestane and Lord Thirlestane and Boulton. All of these titles are in the Peerage of Scotland. The Earl of Lauderdale is the hereditary chief of Clan Maitland. The eldest son is the Master of Lauderdale. The title Viscount Maitland is sometimes used as a courtesy title for the Earl's eldest son and heir.
The Earl of Lauderdale, as Bearer of the [National Flag of Scotland|Bearer for the Sovereign of the Sovereign's National Flag for Scotland], one of the Officers of the Royal Household in Scotland, has the right to bear the saltire for the Sovereign.
The historical family seat is Thirlestane Castle, near Lauder in Scotland, home of Captain Gerald Maitland-Carew and his family. He is a son of Lady Sylvia Maitland - who became wife to the 6th Baron Carew - she was the eldest of two children of the 15th Earl of Lauderdale; her brother was killed in action in North Africa, aged 27 and left three daughters. Therefore the earldom passed to a cadet branch and the castle passed down the more direct female line.
;Notable wives and Maitland descendants

Lords Maitland of Thirlestane (1590)

Earls of Lauderdale (1624)

Duke of Lauderdale (1672)

also created Earl of Guilford and Baron Petersham in the Peerage of England in 1674
''All three titles created for him became extinct upon his death.''

Earls of Lauderdale (1624; reverted)

The heir apparent is the present holder's son, John Douglas Maitland, Viscount Maitland. His uncle, the next in line, is the Rev. Hon. Sydney Milivoje Maitland. Both are childless.
Next in succession to the peerages is the line of the Maitland baronets, descended from the 5th son of the 6th earl. The current baronet is Sir Charles Alexander Maitland, 10th Baronet, the present earl's sixth cousin twice removed.Charles Maitland, 6th Earl of Lauderdale
  • * James Maitland, 7th Earl of Lauderdale
  • ** James Maitland, 8th Earl of Lauderdale
  • *** James Maitland, 9th Earl of Lauderdale
  • *** Anthony Maitland, 10th Earl of Lauderdale
  • ** Hon. William Mordaunt Maitland
  • *** Thomas Maitland, 11th Earl of Lauderdale
  • * Hon. Charles Barclay-Maitland
  • ** Charles Barclay-Maitland
  • *** Charles Barclay-Maitland
  • **** Charles Barclay-Maitland, 12th Earl of Lauderdale
  • * Hon. Richard Maitland
  • ** Patrick Maitland
  • *** Frederick Colthurst Maitland
  • **** Frederick Maitland, 13th Earl of Lauderdale
  • ***** Frederick Maitland, 14th Earl of Lauderdale
  • ****** Ian Maitland, 15th Earl of Lauderdale
  • ***** Sydney George William Maitland
  • ****** Alfred Maitland, 16th Earl of Lauderdale
  • ****** Patrick Maitland, 17th Earl of Lauderdale
  • ******* Ian Maitland, 18th Earl of Lauderdale
  • ******** . John Douglas Maitland, Viscount Maitland
  • ******* . Hon. Sydney Milivoje Maitland
  • * Sir Alexander Maitland, 1st Baronet
  • ** Sir Alexander Charles Gibson-Maitland, 2nd Baronet
  • *** Alexander Maitland
  • **** George Ramsay Maitland
  • ***** Sir John Nisbet Maitland, 5th Baronet
  • ****** Sir George Ramsay Maitland, 7th Baronet
  • ******* Sir Alexander Keith Maitland, 8th Baronet
  • ******** Sir Richard John Maitland, 9th Baronet
  • ********* . Sir Charles Alexander Maitland, 10th Baronet
  • ******** . Robert Ramsay Maitland
  • ********* . Harry Robert Maitland
  • ********* . John Richard Maitland
  • ******* John Ramsay Maitland
  • ******** . David Ramsay Maitland
  • ******** James Maitland
  • ********* . Alexander Findlay Maitland
  • ********* . Charles Percy Maitland
  • ******** . Keith John Maitland
  • ******* James Maitland
  • ******** . Alexander Henry Maitland
The simplified chart above lists those individuals in the line of succession who are nearest in consanguinity to the present earl; there are further heirs in descent from the 2nd Baronet, the 1st Baronet and from other younger sons of the 6th earl.