MAITLAND, Joart, DUKE OF LAUDERDALE. grandson of John, first lord Thirlstane, brother of the famous secretary Lethington, and son of John, first earl of Lauderdale, and of Isabel, daughter of Alexander Seaton, earl of Dunfermline and chancellor of Scotland, was b. at the ancient family scat of Lethington, May 24, 1616. He received an excellent education, being skilled, according to bishop Burnet, in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, history, and divinity, .was carefully- trained in Presbyterian principles, and entered public life as a keen and even a fanatical Covenanter. In 1643 he attended the Westminster assembly of divines as an elder of the church of Scotland, and was a party to the surrender of Charles I. to the English army at Newcastle. Shortly after, how ever, he changed his politics altogether, and became a decided royalist. When Charles II. came to Scotland from Holland, Lauderdale accompanied him; but being taken prisoner at the battle of Worcester in 1651, was kept a prisoner for nine years. Set at liberty by gen. 3Ionk, in 1660, he hastened to the Hague, and was warmly received by Charles. After the removal of Middleton in 1662, and of Bellies in 1667, Lauderdale was practically the sole ruler of Scotland, and for some time displayed a spirit of moderation, and an apparent regard for the religious feelings of his countrymen; but he soon became a hitter persecutor, sent multitudes of the Covenanters " to glorify God at the Grassmarket," and repelled in blasphemous language the remonstrances which manj distinguished persons ventured to make. In 1672 Charles showed his appreciation of
Lauderdale's conduct by- creating him marquis of March and duke of Lauderdale; two years afterwards lie was raised to the English peerage as viscount Petersham and earl of Guilford. and received a seat in the English privy counsel. He was one of the famous " cabal;" but having, by his domineering arrogance, excited the disgust and hatred of his colleagues, as well as of the nation, he fell into disgrace, was stripped of all his offices and pensious in 1682, and died Aug. 24 of the same year. Lauderdale, according to Burnet, " was in his principles much against popery and arbitrary govern ment," and his infamy consists in his shameless sacrifice of his convictions to his interests. He was a rude, blustering, passionate man, with what the duke of Duel:lug lam called a " blundering understanding." 13urnet has also given us a picture of Lis appearance. "Ile was very big, his hair red, hauging oddly about him. His tongue was too big for his mouth, which niade him bedew all that he talked to; and his whole manner was very unfit for a court."