On this day in 1573 Sir William Maitland died in prison in Leith.
Sir William Maitland of Lethington lived from 1525 to 9 June 1573. He was a politician who rose to become Secretary of State to Mary, Queen of Scots.
After Mary's abdication Maitland served in the Regents goverment. But eventually sided with the rebels who sought to reinstate Mary and took part in seizing Edinburgh Castle.
The Regent asked for help from England in putting down the uprising and an English army stormed the castle . Some of the defenders were executed and other jailed including Maitland . Maitland died in his prison cell in Leith either due to suicide or an existing condition bit which is not clear.
