David Erskine, Lord Dun (1670–1758), 13th Laird of Dun, was a Scottish

advocate An advocate is a professional in the field of law. List of country legal systems, Different countries and legal systems use the term with somewhat differing meanings. The broad equivalent in many English law–based jurisdictions could be a ba ...

, judge and commissioner to parliament. Erskine, son of David Erskine of Dun, near Montrose, in Angus, studied at the universities of St. Andrews and

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

. He became a member of the

Faculty of Advocates The Faculty of Advocates () is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary. The Faculty of Advocates is a const ...

on 19 November 1698, and soon rose to eminence. He represented

Forfarshire Angus (; ) is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross. Main industries include agriculture and fishing. Global pharmaceuticals ...

at the convention of estates, 1689, and in the

parliaments In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: representing the electorate, making laws, and overseeing the government via hearings and inquiries. T ...

of 1690, 1691, 1693, 1695, and 1696, and opposed the union. In November 1710 he took his seat as an ordinary lord by the title of Lord Dun, and on 13 April 1714 was also appointed a lord of justiciary. He resigned his justiciary gown in 1744 and his office as an ordinary lord in 1753, and died 26 May 1758 in the eighty-fifth year of his age. He is author of a little volume entitled 'Lord Dun's Friendly and Familiar Advices adapted to the various Stations and Conditions of Life,’ 12mo, Edinburgh, 1754. His arguments on the doctrine of passive obedience were assailed the same year by Dr. Robert Wallace, minister at

Moffat Moffat is a burgh and parish in Dumfriesshire. Part of the Dumfries and Galloway local authority area in Scotland, it lies on the River Annan, with a population of around 2,500. It was a centre of the wool trade and a spa town. Moffat is arou ...

, who characterises Erskine as 'a venerable old man, of very great experience, and greatly distinguished for piety.'

References

1670 births 1758 deaths People from Montrose, Angus Alumni of the University of St Andrews University of Paris alumni 18th-century Scottish writers 18th-century Scottish male writers

Dun Dun most commonly refers to: *Dun gene, which produces a brownish-gray color (dun) in horses and other Equidae * Dun (fortification), an ancient or medieval fort Dun or DUN may also refer to: Places Scotland * Dun, Angus, a civil parish in ...

Members of the Faculty of Advocates Shire Commissioners to the Parliament of Scotland Members of the Convention of the Estates of Scotland 1689 Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1689–1702 Politics of Angus, Scotland 18th-century Scottish judges Scottish expatriates in France {{Scotland-pre1707-MP-stub

See also

References