Family and Education

b. ?1706, 1st s. of John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar [S] by his 1st w. Lady Margaret Hay, da. of Thomas, 7th Earl of Kinnoull [S]. educ. Westminster May 1715, aged 8. m. 1 Oct. 1741, Lady Charlotte Hope da. of Charles, 1st Earl of Hopetoun [S], s.p.

Offices Held

Capt. of Ft. 1729-34.

Biography

Erskine, commonly known as Lord Erskine, was at Westminister school during the rebellion which his father, Lord Mar, headed in 1715. Later, he joined his attainted father abroad, obtaining a company in one of the Irish regiments in the French service in 1724. In 1728 his uncle, the Hon. James Erskine, who had purchased his father’s forfeited estates on his behalf, took him home, introduced him to Walpole and Ilay, and brought him into Parliament. Given a commission in the army, he voted with the Administration on the Hessians in 1730 and on the army in 1732. According to his uncle, he was promised by Ilay that if he voted for the excise he ‘would be restored to the honours of his family next session, but though he did so, going along with them as fully as their other slaves’,1 he was disappointed. With his uncle, he went into opposition, voting against the Administration on the repeal of the Septennial Act in 1734. He was defeated for Stirlingshire at the next general election. In 1747, after his uncle had returned to supporting the Administration, he was elected for Stirlingshire at a by-election and for Clackmannanshire at the general election as a government supporter. He did not stand in 1754. He died 16 Mar. 1766.

Ref Volumes: 1715-1754

Author: Eveline Cruickshanks

Notes

• 1. Spalding Club Misc. iii. 28-31, 39.