
Thomas Erskine, Lord Erskine (1705 – 16 March 1766) was a Scottish 18th century politician.
He was the son of
John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar. He could not inherit the title of Earl of Mar due to the
Writ of Attainder for treason passed against his father in 1716 for his role in the First Jacobite Rebellion (1715).
He had a home in
Broughton, Gayfield House, purchased in 1765 shortly before his death for £2,000. The house is still extant.
Parliamentary Career
He served as Member of Parliament for Stirling from 1728 to 1734. He was returned as Member of Parliament for Stirlingshire for the year of 1747 only. He was then elected as MP for Clackmannanshire from 1747 to 1754.
Freemason
Thomas, Lord Erskine, son of John, 6th and 23rd Earl of Mar was initiated in Lodge Kilwinning Scots Arms, Edinburgh, No.3, in 1736. His name is second on the list of registrations in
Grand Lodge
A Grand Lodge, also called Grand Orient, Obedience, or by another similar title, is a name for the overarching governing body of a fraternal or other similarly organized group in a given area, usually a city, state, or country.
In Freemasonry
A ...
made by Kilwinning Scots Arms in 1739. This Lodge had large military personnel and is now defunct. Lord Erskine, being under the shadow of his father's attainder, and being denied succession to the title of Earl of Mar, led the quiet life of a country gentleman and had more time to devote himself to the study of Freemasonry. He was elected Grand Master Mason of Scotland in 1749.
This undoubtedly led to a quickening of interest in the Craft in Alloa. Thereafter stray names of Alloa men begin to appear in the minutes of the Lodge of Stirling. Within five years a Depute Lodge was regularly meeting in Alloa.
Marriage
On 1 October 1741, he married Charlotte Hope, daughter of the
Charles Hope, 1st Earl of Hopetoun
Charles Hope, 1st Earl of Hopetoun, Order of the Thistle, KT, Privy Council, PC (1681 – 26 February 1742) was a Scotland, Scottish nobleman.
Early life
He was the son of John Hope of Hopetoun by a daughter of the John Hamilton, 4th Earl of Had ...
. He died without issue.
Notes
1705 births
1766 deaths
British courtesy barons and lords of Parliament
Heirs apparent who never acceded
Members of the Parliament of Great Britain for Scottish constituencies
British MPs 1727–1734
British MPs 1741–1747
British MPs 1747–1754
Dukes of Mar
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