Charles Maitland


(3rd Earl of Lauderdale, Lord Haltoun)

c.1620 - 1691

Jurist, politician and noble. Born at Lennoxlove House (Lethington), the son of John Maitland, 1st Earl of Lauderdale (d. 1645), Maitland succeeded his older brother, another John Maitland, who was the 2nd Earl and only Duke of Lauderdale, who died without a legitimate heir in 1682.

In 1652, he married Elizabeth Lauder and thus acquired the Hatton or Haltoun Estate in West Lothian. He aggrandised the existing tower into a fine mansion - Hatton House. In 1660, he was appointed Master of the Scottish Mint by King Charles II (1630-85) and, despite no legal experience, was admitted to the College of Justice as Lord Haltoun in 1669. His brother had been enormously powerful and Maitland's political influence grew as a result but he was not well-liked and regarded as corrupt. As soon as his brother lost power Maitland was cast aside by the political establishment. He was convicted of corruption and fined heavily, and then of embezzlement from the Mint, bringing its closure in 1687. He was briefly confined in Edinburgh Castle having refused to swear allegiance to William of Orange after the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

He died at Hatton House.


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