Sir Peregrine Maitland was born on the 6 July 1777 at Longparish House, Hampshire, England. In 1792 he was appointed ensign in the 1st foot-guards (grenadier guards) and became Lieutenant and Captain in 1794, and Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel in 1803. He served with his regiment in Flanders in 1794, in the unsuccessful descent on Ostend in 1798, at Vigo and Corunna in 1809, and afterwards at Walcheren. He became Brevet Colonel in 1812, served with his regiment at Cadiz, and was second in command in the attack on Seville. He commanded the 1st brigade of guards at the passage of Bidassoa, at the battle of Nivelle, and at the passage of the Nive on the 9-12 December 1813, also at the operations before Bayonne, at the action of Bidart, and the passage of the Adour. He became a Major-General in 1814 and was made CB on the 4 June 1815. He commanded the 1st brigade of guards, consisting of the 1st and 3rd battalions grenadier guards, at Quatrebras and Waterloo and at the occupation of Paris (KCB).

Maitland was Lieutenant-Governor of Upper Canada (June 1818-1828); Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia (1828-1834); Commander-in-Chief of the Madras army (October 1836-Christmas 1838), and Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Cape Colony (March 1844-January 1847). The Seventh Xhosa War of 1846-1847 (formerly known as the Seventh Kaffir War) began during his government. Maitland became a full General in 1846. He was Colonel in succession of the 76th and 17th regiments, and was made a GCB in 1852. Maitland died at his residence in London on the 30 May 1854.