Elizabeth Maitland, Duchess of Lauderdale

Elizabeth Maitland
Duchess of Lauderdale
Portrait by Peter Lely, 1648–49
Born	(1626-09-28)28 September 1626
Died	5 June 1698(1698-06-05) (aged 71) Ham House, London, England
Buried	St Peter's Church, Petersham
Nationality	Scottish
Spouse(s)	Sir Lionel Tollemache, 3rd Baronet ​ ​ (m. 1648; died 1669)​ John Maitland, 1st Duke of Lauderdale ​ ​ (m. 1672; died 1682)​
Issue	Lionel Tollemache, 3rd Earl of Dysart Thomas Tollemache Elizabeth Tollemache William Tollemache Catherine Tollemache
Father	William Murray, 1st Earl of Dysart
Mother	Catherine Murray, Countess of Dysart

Elizabeth Maitland, Duchess of Lauderdale, 2nd Countess of Dysart (née Murray; 28 September 1626^[1] – 5 June 1698), was a Scottish noblewoman. She was the eldest daughter of William Murray and his wife Catherine, the Earl and Countess of Dysart. She was raised in English court circles during the years leading up to the English Civil War and received a well-rounded education from her parents. Her first husband was Lionel Tollemache, with whom she had eleven children. In 1672, three years after Lionel's death, she married John Maitland and gained a prominent position in the restored court.

After her father's death, Maitland held the title of Countess of Dysart in her own right. After her remarriage in 1672, she was also the Duchess of Lauderdale. She was famous for the political influence she exercised and for her support for Charles II during his exile. As an associate of the secret Royalist organisation known as the Sealed Knot, she actively supported the return of the monarchy after the execution of Charles I. She was also a lifelong patron of artists, particularly Peter Lely. She died at the age of 71 at her family home, Ham House near Richmond by the Thames, and is buried in the nearby parish church.