Thomas Maitland, Lord Dundrennan
Encyclopedia
Thomas Maitland, Lord Dundrennan (October 9, 1792 – June 10, 1851) was a Scottish
lawyer
and judge
. He was Solicitor General for Scotland
between 1840 and 1841 and again between 1846 and 1850. He was also Member of Parliament
for Kirkcudbrightshire
between 1845 and 1850. In 1850 he was raised to become one of the Lords of Session and the Justiciary
, as Lord Dundrennan.
, Kirkcudbrightshire
, on October 9, 1792. He studied at Edinburgh, and was called to the Scottish bar in December 1813. After practising successfully for a quarter of a century, he was on 9 May 1840 appointed solicitor-general in Lord Melbourne's administration. He vacated the office in September 1841 on the accession of the tories under Peel to power. On the death of his father in July 1843 he succeeded to the family estates, and sat in parliament for Kirkcudbrightshire from 1845 to 1850. Lord John Russell
reappointed him solicitor-general on July 6, 1846, and he remained in office till January 1850.
After Jeffrey's death he was on February 6, 1850 named a lord of the court of session, and took the title of Lord Dundrennan. While his own residence was being repaired, he went to stay with his brother, Edward Francis Maitland, Lord Barcaple, in 31 Melville Street, Edinburgh, and died there of paralysis on June 10, 1851.
On July 3, 1815 he married Isabella Graham, fourth daughter of James McDowall of Garthland, Renfrewshire. By her he had four sons and two daughters. The Scottish judges, Henry Thomas Cockburn
and John, Lord Fullerton, were his brothers-in-law, being married to sisters of his wife.
Dundrennan was devoted to antiquarian literature, and possessed a magnificent library — ‘a monument,’ according to Cockburn, ‘honourable to his taste and judgment.’ The collection was dispersed by sale on November 10, 1851 and eight following days. Lord Jeffrey was an intimate friend, and in 1843 Dundrennan selected and arranged the volume of Jeffrey's contributions to the ‘Edinburgh Review
,’ which was published in November of that year. Dundrennan also issued in limited editions reprints of works by Geoffrey Mynshull, John Bellenden
, Marlowe, Bishop Hall, and Thomas Carew
, and prepared for publication ‘The Works of Robert Herrick
, with a Biographical Notice,’ 1823, 2 vols., and for the Maitland Club, ‘The Poems of William Drummond
of Hawthornden,’ 1832, ‘The Works of Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty, Knight,’ 1834, and ‘The Works of George Dalgarno
of Aberdeen,’ 1834.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
. He was Solicitor General for Scotland
Solicitor General for Scotland
Her Majesty's Solicitor General for Scotland is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Lord Advocate, whose duty is to advise the Crown and the Scottish Government on Scots Law...
between 1840 and 1841 and again between 1846 and 1850. He was also Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Kirkcudbrightshire
Kirkcudbright Stewartry (UK Parliament constituency)
Kirkcudbright Stewartry, later known as Kirkcudbright or Kirkcudbrightshire, was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1918. It was represented by one Member of Parliament .The first...
between 1845 and 1850. In 1850 he was raised to become one of the Lords of Session and the Justiciary
Senator of the College of Justice
The Senators of the College of Justice are judges of the College of Justice, a set of legal institutions involved in the administration of justice in Scotland. There are three types of Senator: Lords of Session ; Lords Commissioner of Justiciary ; and the Chairman of the Scottish Land Court...
, as Lord Dundrennan.
Biography
Maitland, eldest son of Adam Maitland, was born at his father's seat, Dundrennan AbbeyDundrennan Abbey
Dundrennan Abbey, in Dundrennan, Scotland, near to Kirkcudbright, was a Cistercian monastery in the Romanesque architectural style, established in 1142 by Fergus of Galloway, King David I of Scotland , and monks from Rievaulx Abbey....
, Kirkcudbrightshire
Kirkcudbrightshire
The Stewartry of Kirkcudbright or Kirkcudbrightshire was a county of south-western Scotland. It was also known as East Galloway, forming the larger Galloway region with Wigtownshire....
, on October 9, 1792. He studied at Edinburgh, and was called to the Scottish bar in December 1813. After practising successfully for a quarter of a century, he was on 9 May 1840 appointed solicitor-general in Lord Melbourne's administration. He vacated the office in September 1841 on the accession of the tories under Peel to power. On the death of his father in July 1843 he succeeded to the family estates, and sat in parliament for Kirkcudbrightshire from 1845 to 1850. Lord John Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell
John Russell, 1st Earl Russell, KG, GCMG, PC , known as Lord John Russell before 1861, was an English Whig and Liberal politician who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the mid-19th century....
reappointed him solicitor-general on July 6, 1846, and he remained in office till January 1850.
After Jeffrey's death he was on February 6, 1850 named a lord of the court of session, and took the title of Lord Dundrennan. While his own residence was being repaired, he went to stay with his brother, Edward Francis Maitland, Lord Barcaple, in 31 Melville Street, Edinburgh, and died there of paralysis on June 10, 1851.
On July 3, 1815 he married Isabella Graham, fourth daughter of James McDowall of Garthland, Renfrewshire. By her he had four sons and two daughters. The Scottish judges, Henry Thomas Cockburn
Henry Thomas Cockburn
Henry Thomas Cockburn, Lord Cockburn was a Scottish lawyer, judge and literary figure. He served as Solicitor General for Scotland between 1830 and 1834.-Background and education:...
and John, Lord Fullerton, were his brothers-in-law, being married to sisters of his wife.
Dundrennan was devoted to antiquarian literature, and possessed a magnificent library — ‘a monument,’ according to Cockburn, ‘honourable to his taste and judgment.’ The collection was dispersed by sale on November 10, 1851 and eight following days. Lord Jeffrey was an intimate friend, and in 1843 Dundrennan selected and arranged the volume of Jeffrey's contributions to the ‘Edinburgh Review
Edinburgh Review
The Edinburgh Review, founded in 1802, was one of the most influential British magazines of the 19th century. It ceased publication in 1929. The magazine took its Latin motto judex damnatur ubi nocens absolvitur from Publilius Syrus.In 1984, the Scottish cultural magazine New Edinburgh Review,...
,’ which was published in November of that year. Dundrennan also issued in limited editions reprints of works by Geoffrey Mynshull, John Bellenden
John Bellenden
John Bellenden or Ballantyne of Moray was a Scottish writer of the 16th century.He was born towards the close of the 15th century, and educated at St. Andrews and Paris. At the request of James V he translated Hector Boece's Historia Gentis Scotorum...
, Marlowe, Bishop Hall, and Thomas Carew
Thomas Carew
Thomas Carew was an English poet, among the 'Cavalier' group of Caroline poets.-Biography:He was the son of Sir Matthew Carew, master in chancery, and his wife, Alice daughter of Sir John Rivers, Lord Mayor of the City of London and widow of Ingpen...
, and prepared for publication ‘The Works of Robert Herrick
Robert Herrick (poet)
Robert Herrick was a 17th-century English poet.-Early life:Born in Cheapside, London, he was the seventh child and fourth son of Julia Stone and Nicholas Herrick, a prosperous goldsmith....
, with a Biographical Notice,’ 1823, 2 vols., and for the Maitland Club, ‘The Poems of William Drummond
William Drummond
William Drummond or Bill Drummond is the name of:*William Drummond of Hawthornden , Scottish poet, influenced by Spenser; best known for illustrated essay, Cypresse Grove...
of Hawthornden,’ 1832, ‘The Works of Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty, Knight,’ 1834, and ‘The Works of George Dalgarno
George Dalgarno
George Dalgarno was a Scottish intellectual interested in linguistic problems. Originally from Aberdeen, he later worked as a schoolteacher in Oxford in collaboration with John Wilkins, although the two parted company intellectually in 1659.-Works:...
of Aberdeen,’ 1834.