Baron Erskine facts for kids
The title of Baron Erskine is a special noble rank in the United Kingdom. It was first given to a very important person named Thomas Erskine in 1806. He became a Baron when he was appointed as the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, which is like being the chief judge and a top government official. He held this important job for about a year.
Thomas Erskine was the youngest son of Henry Erskine, 10th Earl of Buchan, whose family has a long history of nobility. The title of Baron Erskine has been passed down through his family. Since 1960, the Baron Erskine title has been connected to another older noble title, the Earl of Buchan.
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What is a Baron?
A Baron is a rank in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The peerage is a system of noble titles that have been passed down through families for many years. Being a Baron means you are part of the nobility and historically had a seat in the House of Lords, which is part of the UK Parliament.
The First Baron Erskine
The first Baron Erskine, Thomas Erskine (1749/50–1823), was a brilliant lawyer and politician. He was known for his strong speeches and his work in defending people's rights. When he became Lord High Chancellor, it was a very high honor, showing how respected he was.
Passing Down the Title
After Thomas Erskine, the title of Baron Erskine was passed to his eldest son, David Montagu Erskine, 2nd Baron Erskine (1777–1855). He was a diplomat, meaning he worked for the government in other countries, representing the United Kingdom.
His two oldest sons, Thomas Americus Erskine, 3rd Baron Erskine (1802–1877) and John Cadwallader Erskine, 4th Baron Erskine (1804–1882), became the third and fourth Barons in turn.
The fifth Baron was William Macnaghten Erskine, 5th Baron Erskine (1841–1913). He was a Deputy Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, which is a ceremonial role helping the King or Queen's representative in a county.
Joining the Earl of Buchan Title
The seventh Baron Erskine, Donald Cardross Flower Erskine (1899–1984), also became the 16th Earl of Buchan in 1960. This happened because he was related to the previous Earl of Buchan, who passed away without a direct heir. Since then, the titles of Baron Erskine and Earl of Buchan have been held by the same person.
Other Notable Family Members
The Erskine family has had many other interesting members:
- The Honourable Henry David Erskine (1786–1859), who was the second son of the first Baron, became the Dean of Ripon, a senior church position.
- The Honourable Thomas Erskine (1788–1870), the third son of the first Baron, became a judge in a major court called the Court of Common Pleas.
- The Honourable Esmé Stuart Erskine (1789–1817) was a soldier who fought bravely at the famous Battle of Waterloo, where he was injured and lost an arm.
- The Honourable Edward Erskine, the fourth son of the second Baron, was also a diplomat. He served as the official representative for the United Kingdom in countries like Greece and Sweden.
- James Erskine (1821–1904), another son of the second Baron, was given a special noble title, Graf Erskine, by King Ludwig II of Bavaria in Germany.
For more information about the Barons Erskine after 1960, you can look up the article on the Earl of Buchan.
