Naval commander. Born in Rankeilour (near Cupar, Fife), the son a naval Captain, who had fought much of the Seven Years War in the West Indies, and grandson of Charles Maitland, the 6th Earl of Lauderdale.
Maitland began his naval career at the age of 8, as servant to his father who was, by that time, Captain of the Royal Yacht Princess Augusta. He was a Midshipman by the age of 16, Lieutenant by 18, Commander by 22 and Captain of his own ship by 24. He served in the Mediterranean, supported General Sir Ralph Abercromby (1734 - 1801) at Aboukir Bay, but also in Canada, America and the West Indies. While in command of HMS Bellerophon, intercepted Napoleon who was trying to escape from Rochefort (France) to America after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo (1815). Napoleon was taken to St. Helena, while Maitland went on to be promoted to Admiral (1830), knighted (1831) and ended his career (and his life) as Commander-in-Chief in the East Indies.
He came on his estate at Lindores through his wife's family and built a country house there.
