Maitland, Rear Admiral Sir Thomas
b. 1803-02-02
d. 1878-09-01
Maitland was the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Station from May 1860 to October 1862. He was stationed in Esquimalt for his tenure in the Pacific; he provided naval assistance during a territorial dispute over San Juan Island, the burgeoning of colony populations in light of the gold rush, and conflicts between Indigenous peoples and colonists.1 The exigencies of colonial administration at Vancouver Island and British Columbia led to the relocation of the Pacific Station headquarters from Valparaiso to Esquimalt, in 1865.
Maitland joined the Navy at the age of 13 and served for 57 years, eventually retiring as an Admiral in 1873.2 He served as the Aide-De-Camp to Queen Victoria from 1866 until 1873, when he was also appointed Knight Grand Cross (G.C.B.).3 Maitland also received the Cross of Charles III in 1837, awarded for his efforts during the First Carlist War; he was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on the retired list in 1877.4
Maitland's family line is rich with distinctions, K.C.B., G.C.B., K.T (Knight, Order of the Thistle), General, and Admiral, but Admiral of the Fleet is the crowning achievement.5 He married Amelia Young in February 1828 and they had four children, of which only two survived beyond him.6
Upon the death of his cousin, Anthony Maitland, on 22 March 1863, Thomas succeeded as the 11th Lord of Thirlestane and Boltoun, 11th Earl of Lauderdale, 11th Viscount Maitland, 7th Baronet Maitland, 12th Lord Maitland of Thirlestane, and 11th Viscount of Lauderdale.7
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