MAITLAND, JOHN [SSNE 1550]
- Surname
- MAITLAND
- First name
- JOHN
- Title/rank
- SIR
- Nationality
- SCOT
- Region
- THIRLESTANE, LAUDERDALE, BORDERS
- Social status
- NOBILITY
Text source
Sir John Maitland of Thirlestane (1545-1595) was the son of Sir Richard Maitland, Lord Lethington. Maitland became Lord Privy Seal in 1567, Privy Councillor in 1583, Secretary of State 1584, Vice-Chancellor 1586 and Chancellor of Scotland in 1587. He accompanied James VI [SSNE 1531] to Norway in 1589 for the wedding of James to Anna of Denmark [SSNE 4731]. He spent the winter of 1589-90 in Denmark-Norway and accompanied the royal couple to Uraniborg, where Tycho Brahe presented him with his portrait. He had to cede Musselburgh to Queen Anna in 1593, but supported her against the Earl of Mar in 1594-5. For his endeavours, Sir John was created a peer as Lord Maitland of Thirlestane on 17/5/1590. He married Anne, daughter of James, Fourth Lord Fleming, and with her had the children John, Second Lord Maitland and First Earl of Lauderdale and Anne, who married Robert Lord Seaton, son of First Earl of Winton.
Sources: DNB XXXV, pp.357-60; T. Riis, Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot (Odense, 1988), p.69-70.
Service record
- SCOTLAND, DENMARK-NORWAY
- Arrived 1589-01-01
- Departed 1598-12-31
- Capacity DIPLOMAT, purpose DIPLOMACY