The title Earl of Lauderdale was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1624. The second Earl was created Duke of Lauderdale, but at the time of his death, the dukedom became extinct, while his earldom passed to his brother. Other titles associated with the earldom are: Viscount of Lauderdale (created 1616), Viscount of Maitland (1624), Lord Maitland of Thirlestane (1590) and Lord Thirlestane and Boulton (1624). All of these titles are in the Peerage of Scotland. The title Viscount of Maitland is used as a courtesy title for the Earl's eldest son and heir.
Maitland began public life as a zealous adherent of the Presbyterian cause, took the covenant, sat as an elder in the assembly at St Andrews in July 1643, and was sent to England as a commissioner for the covenant in August, and to attend the Westminster assembly in November.
On May 2 1672 he was created duke of Lauderdale and earl of March, and on June 3 knight of the garter.
Lauderdale married (1) Lady Anne Home, daughter of the 1st earl of Home, by whom he had one daughter; and (2) Lady Elizabeth Murray, daughter of the 1st earl of Dysart and widow of Sir Lionel Tollemache.
Lauderdale, John Maitland, duke of[lO´durdAl] Pronunciation Key, 1616–82, Scottish statesman.
Made earl of March and duke of Lauderdale (in the Scottish peerage) in 1672, he was raised to the English peerage as earl of Guilford and made a privy councillor in 1674.
His rule in Scotland was arbitrary and harsh, and his use of Highland troops to suppress the Covenanters in the southwest provoked an uprising in 1679.
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