(John), Lord Thirlstane, chancellor of Scotland, was the son of Richard Maitland of Lithington, and brother to secretary Lithington. He was born in the year 1545, educated in Scotland, and was afterwards sent to France to study the law. On his return to his native country, he commenced advocate; in which profession his abilities became so eminently conspicuous, that in the year 1584, he was made secretary of state to king James VI. and, on the death of the earl of Arran, the year following, created lord high chancellor of Scotland.

The chancellor's power and influence created him many enemies among the Scots nobility, who made several attempts to destroy him, but without success. In 1589, he attended the king on his voyage to Norway, where his bride, the princess of Denmark, was detained by contrary wind. The marriage was immediately consummated, and they returned with the queen to Copenhagen, where they spent the ensuing winter. During their residence in Denmark, the chancellor became intimately acquainted with the celebrated Tycho Brahe.

Towards the end of the year 1592, the chancellor incurred the queen's displeasure, for refusing to relinquish his lordship of Musselburgh, which he claimed as being a part of Dumfermline. He absented himself for some time from court; but was at length restored to favour, and died of a lingering illness in the year 1595, much regretted by the king. Spotifwood and Johnston give him the character of a man of great learning and political abilities. His epigrams are printed in Del. Poet. Scot. vol. ii.