Born on 21 February 1783, General Sir James Maxwell Wallace, K.H., of Ainderby Hall, near Northallerton, was an officer who had served under Wellington at Quatre Bras and Waterloo, was afterwards lieutenant-colonel of the 5th Dragoon guards (when Prince Leopold, afterwards king of the Belgians, was colonel). He died on 3 February1867 as general and colonel of the 17th Lancers.

He married in 1836 Grace Jane, the eldest daughter of John Stein of Edinburgh and widow of Sir Alexander Don, 6th Baronet of Newton Don. Lady Wallace long and actively pursued a career as a translator of German and Spanish works.