James Maxwell, 1st Earl of Dirletoun

James Maxwell, 1st Earl of Dirletoun (died 1650) was a Scottish courtier and landowner, and Black Rod.

[3] Maxwell was appointed Black Rod in 1620 on the death of Sir Richard Coningsby in February 1620.

[4] In May 1609 James VI and I wrote to his advocate in Edinburgh Thomas Haddington to favour the lawsuit of Sir Robert Douglas and Maxwell against the Lord Herries.

[6] This became a more serious affair after Hawley threatened to fight a duel, and his lawyer friends at the Inns of Court took his side, only resolved by the intervention of the king.

[9] In 1616 the Privy Council of Scotland enforced the eviction of several people from Maxwell's lands in Dumfries and Galloway.

[15] In March 1630 Maxwell, by now wealthy, was involved in the sale of older crown jewels with Francis Cottington and acquired a number of pieces himself including the two pearls remaining from the Mirror of Great Britain and Anne of Denmark's gold circlet set with diamonds, emeralds, rubies and pearls, which had been made for her coronation in England by Spilman and Herrick.

[20] She owned a miniature portrait of Anna of Denmark's brother, the Duke of Holstein, set with diamonds.