Lauder was born at Silvermills, Edinburgh, the third son of  Helen Tait (d.1850) and John Lauder of Silvermills (d. 1838), Burgess of Edinburgh and proprietor of the tannery at Silvermills.
Lauder was born at Silvermills, Edinburgh, as the third son of Helen Tait (d.1850) and John Lauder of Silvermills (d. 1838), Burgess of Edinburgh and owner of the tannery at Silvermills.