View source for Catherine Maxwell Stuart, 21st Lady of Traquair

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{short description|Scottish landowner and socialist}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix    = [[The Much Honoured]]
| name                = Lady of Traquair
| honorific_suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100|DL}}
| image               =
| caption             =
| office              = [[Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale]]
| term_start          = 28 August 2024
| monarch             = [[Charles III]]
| predecessor         = [[Hew Strachan|Sir Hew Strachan]]
| birth_name          = Catherine Margaret Mary Maxwell Stuart
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1964|11|16|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Peebles]], [[Scottish Borders]], Scotland
| nationality         = British
| parents             = Peter Maxwell Stuart<br>Flora Carr-Saunders
| relatives           = [[Clan Stewart]]
| education           = [[Peebles High School, Peeblesshire|Peebles High School]]
| alma_mater          = [[London School of Economics]]
| occupation          = landowner, hotelier, brewer, politician, writer
| spouse              = {{marriage|John Grey|1995|1998|end=died}}<br/>{{marriage|Mark Muller|1999}}
| children            = 3
}}
'''Catherine Margaret Mary Maxwell Stuart, 21st Lady of Traquair''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|DL}} (born 16 November 1964) is a Scottish landowner, politician, hotelier, brewer, and writer. She is the first female [[Laird]] of [[Traquair House|Traquair]] and, at the time she succeeded her father in 1990, she was the only female laird in Scotland. She took over the management of the [[Barons in Scotland|lairdship]] from her mother in 1999, which includes a bed and breakfast and ancient brewery. A lifelong [[socialist]], Maxwell Stuart ran for public office four times as a [[Scottish Labour|Labour Party]] candidate, including in the [[2003 Scottish Parliament election]] and the [[2007 Scottish Parliament election]].
== Early life and family ==
Maxwell Stuart was born in 1964 to Captain Peter D'Arcy Joseph Maxwell Stuart, 20th Laird of Traquair and Flora Mary Carr-Saunders Maxwell Stuart, Lady of Traquair.<ref name= celticcastles>{{cite web | title=Traquair Castle House near Edinburgh, The Oldest Historical Inhabited House in Scotland | website=Celtic Castles | url=https://www.celticcastles.com/castles/traquair/history.aspx | access-date=16 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://brill.se/en/producers/traquair|title=Brill|website=brill.se}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/data/gb248-th|title=Records of Traquair House Brewery Ltd, brewers, Innerleithen, Scotland – Archives Hub|website=archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk}}</ref> As a member of a [[Recusancy|recusant]] family, she was raised in the [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] faith.<ref name= celticcastles/><ref name= exploring/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/after-800-years-the-maxwells-are-forced-to-admit-it-s-time-for-a-move-284616.html|title=After 800 years, the Maxwells are forced to admit it's time for a move|date=16 August 2013|website=The Independent}}</ref> Her father was an officer in the [[British Indian Army]] and a managing director at [[Vickers]]. Maxwell Stuart's maternal grandfather was [[Alexander Carr-Saunders|Sir Alexander Carr-Saunders]]. She is a great-great-granddaughter of [[Lord Herries of Terregles#Lords Herries of Terregles (1490)|William Constable-Maxwell, 10th Lord Herries of Terregles]].
A member of the [[Clan Stewart]] and a descendant of the [[Clan Maxwell]], Maxwell Stuart is a relative of the [[House of Stuart]] and descends from the first laird in the female line through Henry Constable Maxwell Stuart.<ref name= celticcastles/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adventureandanxiety.com/2016/10/traquair-house/|title=Traquair House.|date=17 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stewartsociety.org/history-of-the-stewarts.cfm?section=castles-and-buildings&subcatid=8&histid=541|title=History of the Stewarts &#124; Castles and Buildings &#124; Traquair House|website=www.stewartsociety.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=A brief history of Traquair and the family | website=Traquair House | date=14 March 2017 | url=https://www.traquair.co.uk/history-of-traquair/ | access-date=16 April 2021}}</ref> She is also a descendant of [[Mary, Queen of Scots]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.visitorsguidetoscotland.com/2020/12/traquair-house/|title=Traquair House is in the Scottish Borders region and dates from 1107.|date=15 December 2020|website=Visitors Guide to Scotland}}</ref><ref name= peeble/> Maxwell Stuart grew up at [[Traquair House]], her family's estate in the [[Scottish Borders]].<ref name= duchess/> She was educated at [[Traquair]] Primary School and [[Peebles High School, Peeblesshire|Peebles High School]] in [[Peeblesshire]].<ref name= herald2/>
== Lairdship and career ==
[[File:Traquair House - geograph.org.uk - 13310.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Traquair, Maxwell Stuart's estate in the Scottish Borders]]
In 1999, Maxwell Stuart took over the management of the Traquair estate from her mother, who had taken over after the death of the twentieth laird in 1990.<ref>{{cite web | title=Lady Lairds, The ladies challenging tradition by running their own Scottish highland estates – Catherine Maxwell-Stuart – Laird of Traquair | website=BBC | date=13 April 2021 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03ltgqv/p03lxyfc | access-date=16 April 2021}}</ref> Prior to her return to Scotland, she was working as a teacher in South America.<ref name= herald/> At the time she inherited, she was the only female [[Laird]] in Scotland and the first female laird of Traquair.<ref name= herald>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12193823.lady-of-traquair-goes-into-battle-scotlands-only-woman-laird-gets-set-to-fight-commons-seat-for-blair/|title=Lady of Traquair goes into battle Scotland's only woman laird gets set to fight Commons seat for Blair|website=HeraldScotland}}</ref><ref name= duchess>{{Cite web|url=https://www.duchessthepodcast.com/episode/catherine-maxwell-stuart-of-traquair-house|title=Catherine Maxwell Stuart of Traquair House – Duchess|website=www.duchessthepodcast.com}}</ref> As a Scottish Laird, she is entitled to the old style of address of ''[[The Much Honoured]]'' and the title "Lady of Traquair".<ref name=dykworksnow>{{Cite book|last=Adam|first=Frank|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_U0Ii-Om3EwC&q=%22The+Much+Honoured%22+laird&pg=PA410|title=The Clans, Septs & Regiments of the Scottish Highlands|page=410|date=1970|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Com|isbn=978-0-8063-0448-9|language=en}}</ref> Traquair is the oldest continually inhabited stately home in Scotland.<ref>{{cite web | title=Lady Lairds, The ladies challenging tradition by running their own Scottish highland estates - Traquair House - Scotland's oldest inhabited house | website=BBC One | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03ltgqv/p03lxy11 | access-date=16 April 2021}}</ref><ref name= thesouthernreporter>{{Cite news |url=https://www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk/news/four-star-borders-bb-certified-fit-king-811445|title=Four star Borders B&B is certified as fit for a king |newspaper=[[Southern Reporter (newspaper)|The Southern Reporter]] |date=2016-06-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.grovesraines.com/projects/restorationconservation/traquair-house-th0l|title=Traquair House &#124; Restoration/Conservation &#124; Projects &#124; Groves-Raines|website=www.grovesraines.com}}</ref> The castle was given to James Stuart, 1st Laird of Traquair, who was an illegitimate son of [[James Stewart, 1st Earl of Buchan]] and a cousin of [[James III of Scotland]], in 1491.<ref name= thesouthernreporter/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bonvoyagelauren.com/night-traquair-house-scotlands-oldest-inhabited-house/ |title=A Night At Traquair House: Scotland's Oldest Inhabited House  |first=Lauren |last=Meshkin |work=Bon Voyage, Lauren! |date=April 2017}}</ref> Maxwell Stuart operates a [[bed and breakfast]] and a [[brewery]] at the castle, and works as a tour guide at the estate.<ref name= thesouthernreporter/><ref>{{cite web | title=Lady Lairds, The ladies challenging tradition by running their own Scottish highland estates – Inside Traquair | website=BBC One | date=13 April 2021 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03ltgqv/p03ltnwq | access-date=16 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/traquair-house-brewery-p1059061 |title=Traquair House Brewery, Innerleithen – Breweries |website=[[VisitScotland]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aboutscotland.com/traquair/brewery.html |title=History of Traquair House, the oldest inhabited Scottish Castle |website=About Scotland}}</ref> She also hosts weddings, formal events, and summer festivities at Traquair.<ref name= celticcastles/><ref>{{cite web | title=Welcome to Traquair, our very special family home | website=Traquair House | url=https://www.traquair.co.uk/about-traquair/ | access-date=16 April 2021}}</ref> She owns the house in partnership with a charitable trust.<ref name= celticcastles/>
A [[socialist]], in 1999 Maxwell Stuart ran as a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] candidate in a local government election, representing [[Innerleithen]] and [[Walkerburn]], for the [[Scottish Borders Council]].<ref name= herald/><ref name= herald2/> She lost by ninety votes.<ref name= herald/> In 2000 she ran as a [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] candidate for [[Roxburgh]] and [[Berwickshire]] in the General Election.<ref name= herald/><ref name= herald2>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12184748.taken-as-red-scotlands-socialist-lady-laird-is-set-to-challenge-20-years-of-voting-habits-in-the-borders-as-well-as-becoming-a-mother-for-the-second-time/|title=Taken as red Scotland's socialist lady laird is set to challenge 20 years of voting habits in the Borders – as well as becoming a mother for the second time |website=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |location=Glasgow |date=2000-07-14}}</ref> Her platform included the construction of a new train rail, tackling crime, raising minimum wage, and increasing jobs in the [[Scottish Borders]].<ref name= herald/> She ran in the [[2003 Scottish Parliament election]] and the [[2007 Scottish Parliament election]] as a Labour candidate for [[Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Scottish Parliament constituency)|Tweeddale, Ettrick, and Lauderdale]].
In 2016, Maxwell Stuart accepted the Four Star Gold Quality Assurance Award from [[VisitScotland]] on behalf of Traquair House.<ref name= thesouthernreporter/> That same year, she was featured in a [[BBC]] documentary titled ''Lady Lairds'', which followed women owners of castles and [[country houses]].<ref name= peeble>{{Cite news |url=https://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/14392267.lady-of-traquair-bucks-male-trend-in-bbc-documentary/ |title=Lady of Traquair bucks male trend in BBC documentary |newspaper=Peeblesshire News|date=2016-03-30}}</ref>
She has written two books, ''All for Our Rightful King: Traquair's Jacobite Story, 1688–1842'' and ''A Family Life Revealed: The Stuarts at Traquair 1491–1875''.<ref>{{cite web | title=Catherine Maxwell Stuart | website=Goodreads | url=https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479208.Catherine_Maxwell_Stuart | access-date=16 April 2021}}</ref>
In April 2021, she was featured on the ''Duchess'' podcast, where she was interviewed by [[Emma Manners, Duchess of Rutland]].<ref name= duchess/>
In August 2024, Maxwell Stuart was appointed [[Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale]], succeeding [[Hew Strachan|Sir Hew Strachan]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Appointment of Lord-Lieutenant for Tweeddale: 28 August 2024 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/appointment-of-lord-lieutenant-for-tweeddale-28-august-2024 |access-date=29 August 2024 |website=GOV.UK}}</ref>
== Personal life ==
Maxwell Stuart is a practising Catholic.<ref name= duchess/> The [[Scottish National Portrait Gallery|National Portrait Gallery]] holds a 1992 portrait of Stuart.<ref name= npg>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp143307/catherine-maxwell-stuart-21st-lady-of-traquair|title=Catherine Maxwell Stuart, 21st Lady of Traquair – National Portrait Gallery|website=www.npg.org.uk}}</ref>
In 1995 she married fashion designer John Grey in a Catholic ceremony at Traquair's chapel.<ref name= herald/> Her husband died in 1998 from cancer.<ref name= herald/><ref name= duchess/> In 1999 she married Mark Muller, a human rights attorney.<ref name= herald/><ref name= herald2/> She met Muller in the 1980s while studying at the [[London School of Economics]], and the two had been friends prior to their marriage.<ref name= duchess/> She has three children: Isabella, Louis, and Charlotte.<ref name= celticcastles/><ref name= exploring>{{Cite web|url=https://exploringeuropeandrussia.wordpress.com/2015/08/15/having-the-run-of-a-mansion-dating-to-the-1400s/|title=Having the Run of Traquair House, A Mansion Dating to 1107 and Home of the Stuart Royal Family|date=15 August 2015}}</ref><ref name= herald/>
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
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{{succession box
| title=[[Lord Lieutenant of Tweeddale]]
| before=[[Hew Strachan|Sir Hew Strachan]]
| after=Incumbent
| years=2024–present}}
{{s-reg|sct-ba}}
{{succession box
| title = [[Baronage of Scotland|Baroness of Traquair]]
| before = Sir Alexander Carr-Saunders
| after = Incumbent
| years = 1990–present
}}{{S-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Traquair, Catherine Maxwell Stuart, 21st Lady of}}
[[Category:1964 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Peebles]]
[[Category:Nobility from the Scottish Borders]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish landowners]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century British women landowners]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish women writers]]
[[Category:Alumni of the London School of Economics]]
[[Category:British hoteliers]]
[[Category:British women historians]]
[[Category:Catholic socialists]]
[[Category:Clan Maxwell]]
[[Category:Clan Stewart]]
[[Category:Lairds]]
[[Category:Lord-lieutenants of Tweeddale]]
[[Category:People educated at Peebles High School, Peeblesshire]]
[[Category:Scottish brewers]]
[[Category:Scottish Labour parliamentary candidates]]
[[Category:Scottish Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Scottish socialists]]
[[Category:Scottish women in business]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish businesspeople]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish businesswomen]]
[[Category:21st-century Scottish businesswomen]]