James Maitland (1759-1839) was the eldest son of James Maitland, 7th Earl of Lauderdale (1718–1789). He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford as well as the universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Paris and began his career as an advocate before serving as MP for Newport, Cornwall in 1780-84 and Malmesbury, 1784-89. In 1772 he married Eleanor Todd, the only daughter and heiress of Anthony Todd, Foreign Secretary of the Post Office. His succession as 8th Earl of Lauderdale in 1789 terminated his career in the House of Commons and in 1790 he was elected a Scottish representative peer in the House of Lords. In 1806 he was created Baron Lauderdale of Thirlestane into the peerage of the UK and was also appointed Lord High Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland from 1806-7.

Lauderdale was known for his outlandish and controversial stance on politics, having been a great admirer and supporter of the prominent Whig politician, Charles James Fox. He was one of the managers for Warren Hasting’s impeachment and a known criticiser of the East India Company. He opposed the abolition of slavery until 1806, when he voted in favour for the bill and was also involved in the trial of Queen Caroline in 1820 and subsequently appointed Knight of Thistle by King George IV in 1821. Lauderdale was also a passionate supporter of the French Revolution and acquired the nickname ‘Citizen Maitland’ in the House of Lords.

In 1790, Lauderdale commissioned Robert Adam to make designs for alterations to his house in Dunbar at the top of the High Street. At the same time, Lauderdale also commissioned the construction of an inn further south on the High Street by the architect Alexander Ponton who had previously worked with Adam on several projects and was also costing the plans for Lauderdale’s house in Dunbar. The inn was named the ‘New Inn’ (34 High Street) and was completed in 1792. Adam was commissioned to provide drawings for chimney pieces in the principal rooms of the building, though it is not known if these were carried out.

The inn was converted into a barracks in the nineteenth century and has subsequently been heavily altered. It was later converted into a retirement home called ‘Eventide Home’ by the Church of Scotland.

Literature: A.T. Bolton, The Architecture of Robert and James Adam, Volume II, Index, 1922, p. 10; C. Mosley (ed.), Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 2003, p. 2248-2250; Historic Environment Scotland online, '34 High Street (LB24802)’ [accessed 17 June 2022]; N. Pevsner, The Buildings of Scotland: Lothian, 1978, p.188; R. Thorne, ‘Maitland, James, eighth earl of Lauderdale (1759–1839)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Online, 2008 [accessed 09 March 2022]; M. Sanderson, ‘Robert Adam’s last visit to Scotland, 1791’, Architectural History, Volume 25, 1982, p. 43

Louisa Catt, 2022

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