Robert Francis St Clair-Erskine, 4th Earl of Rosslyn (2 March 1833 – 6 September 1890), styled Lord Loughborough from 1851 until 1866, was a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and culture ...

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

politician. He served as

Captain of the Gentlemen-at-Arms Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

under

Lord Salisbury Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury (; 3 February 183022 August 1903), known as Lord Salisbury, was a British statesman and Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United ...

between 1886 and 1890.

Early life

Rosslyn was the son of

James St Clair-Erskine, 3rd Earl of Rosslyn General James Alexander St Clair-Erskine, 3rd Earl of Rosslyn PC, DL (15 February 1802 – 16 June 1866), styled Lord Loughborough from 1805 to 1837, was a Scottish soldier and Tory politician. A General in the British Army, he also held poli ...

, and Frances (née Wemyss). He succeeded his father in the earldom in 1866. He served under

Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

from 1886 until shortly before his death in September 1890. He was a minor poet and published "Sonnets" in 1883, "A Jubilee Lyric" in 1887 (dedicated to

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...

) and "Sonnets and Poems" in 1889.

Freemasonry

Robert joined Lodge Oswald of Dunnikier together with James Townsend Oswald on 8 April 1867. In addition to being a Grand Master Mason of the

Grand Lodge of Scotland The Grand Lodge of Antient Free and Accepted Masons of Scotland is the governing body of Freemasonry in Scotland. It was founded in 1736. About one third of Scotland's lodges were represented at the foundation meeting of the Grand Lodge. Histo ...

between 1870 and 1873, he became Depute Master of Lodge Canongate Kilwinning, No. 2, on 1 August 1853. Lord Rosslyn was the Grand Master of the modern Masonic Great Priory of Scotland from 1884 until his death in 1890. He was also the Grand Master of the

Royal Order of Scotland The Royal Order of Scotland is an Masonic bodies, appendant order within the structures of Freemasonry. Membership is an honour extended to Freemasons by invitation. The Grand Lodge of the Royal Order of Scotland is headquartered in Edinburgh, ...

from 1883.

Personal life

Lord Rosslyn married Blanche Adeliza (née Fitzroy) Maynard (1839–1933), a great-granddaughter of

Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton Augustus Henry FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton (28 September 173514 March 1811), styled Earl of Euston between 1747 and 1757, was a British Whig statesman of the Georgian era. He is one of a handful of dukes who have served as Prime Minister of t ...

and widow of Colonel Hon. Charles Henry Maynard (son and of the 3rd Viscount Maynard), on 8 November 1866. They had five children: * Lady Millicent Fanny St Clair-Erskine (1867–1955), whose first husband was

Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 4th Duke of Sutherland Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 4th Duke of Sutherland (20 July 1851– 27 June 1913), styled Lord Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower until 1858, Earl Gower between 1858 and 1861 and Marquess of Stafford between 1861 and 1892, was a British ...

* James Francis Harry St Clair-Erskine, 5th Earl of Rosslyn (1869–1939) * Hon. Alexander FitzRoy St Clair-Erskine (1870–1914), who married Winifrede Baker, a daughter of Henry William Baker of California, in 1905 * Lady Sybil Mary St Clair-Erskine (1871–1910), who married

Anthony Fane, 13th Earl of Westmorland Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Mildmay Julian Fane, 13th Earl of Westmorland, Order of the British Empire, CBE, Justice of the Peace, JP (16 August 1859 – 9 June 1922), styled Lord Burghersh between October 1859 and 1891, was a British peer. Back ...

* Lady Angela Selina Bianca St Clair-Erskine (1876–1950), who married Lt-Col James Stewart Forbes, of Asloun,

Aberdeenshire Aberdeenshire (; ) is one of the 32 Subdivisions of Scotland#council areas of Scotland, council areas of Scotland. It takes its name from the Shires of Scotland, historic county of Aberdeenshire (historic), Aberdeenshire, which had substantial ...

Lady Rosslyn had two daughters by her first marriage: Frances Evelyn "Daisy" Maynard (who married

Francis Greville, 5th Earl of Warwick Francis Richard Charles Guy Greville, 5th Earl of Warwick (9 February 1853 – 15 January 1924), styled Lord Brooke until 1893, was a Conservative Party (UK), British Conservative politician. Early life Greville was the son of George Greville, 4 ...

) and Blanche "Blanchie" Maynard (who married

Lord Algernon Gordon-Lennox Colonel Lord Algernon Charles Gordon-Lennox (19 September 1847 – 3 October 1921) was a British aristocrat and military officer. Life Gordon-Lennox was educated at Eton. He served in the Royal Navy between 1862 and 1865. In 1867, he joined ...

and was the mother of

Ivy Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland Ivy Cavendish-Bentinck, Duchess of Portland GBE (née Gordon-Lennox; 16 June 1887 – 3 March 1982) was Duchess of Portland from 1943 – 1977 and afterwards Dowager Duchess. She initiated the Harley Foundation, "to encourage creativity". F ...

). Lord Rosslyn died in

Dysart, Fife Dysart ( ; (IPA: �tʲiːʃəɾʃt̪) is a town and former royal burgh located on the south-east coast between Kirkcaldy and West Wemyss in Fife, Scotland. Dysart was once part of a wider estate owned by the St Clair or Sinclair family. They ...

on 6 September 1890, aged 57. He was buried on 11 September, just west of

Rosslyn Chapel Rosslyn Chapel, also known as the Collegiate Chapel of Saint Matthew, is a 15th-century Scottish Episcopal Church, Episcopal chapel located in the village of Roslin, Midlothian, Roslin in Midlothian, Scotland. The chapel was founded by William Si ...

, which traditionally has very strong masonic links. The monument is carved in two different types of sandstone. His wife Blanche was later buried with him. Lady Rosslyn survived her husband by over 40 years and died at York Terrace, Regent's Park, London, in December 1933. She was described in her obituary in ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' as "one of the last survivors of the great Victorian hostesses". She knew personally many of the most famous people of the Victorian era, including

Benjamin Disraeli Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield (21 December 1804 – 19 April 1881) was a British statesman, Conservative Party (UK), Conservative politician and writer who twice served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He played a ...

and

William Gladstone William Ewart Gladstone ( ; 29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British politican, starting as Conservative MP for Newark and later becoming the leader of the Liberal Party. In a career lasting over 60 years, he was Prime Minister ...

References

External links

* * *
Great Priory of Scotland
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rosslyn, Robert St Clair-Erskine, 4th Earl of 1833 births 1890 deaths Nobility from Midlothian Earls in the Peerage of the United Kingdom Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms Lords High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom

Robert The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of ''Hrōþ, Hruod'' () "fame, glory, honour, prais ...

Scottish Freemasons