Career
Known by the courtesy title of Viscount Maitland before he inherited the earldom, he fought in the Second Boer War and later in the First World War. Lauderdale was a Scottish representative peer, with a seat in the House of Lords, from 1929 until his death. He saw active service in South Africa in 1900–1901, when he was mentioned in despatches, then was Assistant Director of Auxiliary Forces on the Headquarters Staff from 1904 to 1908.
He saw further active service in the European War of 1914–1918, in which he was wounded.
He was appointed Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1919 and succeeded his father in 1924, taking up residence at Thirlestane Castle near Lauder in Scotland. In 1929 Lauderdale was elected a Representative Peer for Scotland.