High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Earl of Lauderdale is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1624 for John Maitland, 2nd Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, Berwickshire. The second Earl was created Duke of Lauderdale but died without male issue when the dukedom became extinct. The earldom passed to his brother Charles, 3rd Earl. Charles married, in 1652, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Lauder of Haltoun and by this marriage came into that family's great estates. Other titles associated with the earldom are: Viscount of Lauderdale (created 1616), Viscount of Maitland (1624), Lord Maitland of Thirlestane (1590) and Lord Thirlestane and Boulton (1624). All of these titles are in the Peerage of Scotland. The Earl of Lauderdale is the hereditary Clan Chief of Clan Maitland. The title Viscount Maitland is sometimes used as a courtesy title for the Earl's eldest son and heir. The eldest son is also known as the Master of Lauderdale. The Earl of Lauderdale, as The Bearer of the National Flag of Scotland, one of the Offices of the Royal Household in Scotland, has the right to bear the saltire.