David Erskine, Lord Dun facts for kids
David Erskine, Lord Dun (born 1670, died 1758) was an important person in Scottish history. He was the 13th Laird of Dun, a skilled advocate (which is like a lawyer), a respected judge, and a commissioner to parliament (meaning he represented his area in the government).
David Erskine was the son of David Erskine of Dun, a place near Montrose in Scotland. He went to college at the University of St. Andrews and then continued his studies in Paris, France.
Early Career and Politics
After his education, David Erskine became a member of the Faculty of Advocates on November 19, 1698. This was a group of top lawyers in Scotland. He quickly became very successful in his legal work.
He also got involved in politics. He represented the area of Forfarshire in several important government meetings. These included the Convention of Estates in 1689 and the Scottish Parliament in 1690, 1691, 1693, 1695, and 1696. He was known for being against the union of Scotland and England, which happened in 1707.
Becoming a Judge
In November 1710, David Erskine became a judge, taking the title of Lord Dun. He was an ordinary lord, which meant he was a main judge in the highest court in Scotland. A few years later, on April 13, 1714, he was also made a lord of justiciary. This meant he was a judge in criminal cases.
Lord Dun served as a judge for many years. He stepped down from his role as a criminal judge in 1744. Then, in 1753, he retired from his position as an ordinary lord. He passed away on May 26, 1758, when he was 85 years old.
His Writings
Lord Dun also wrote a small book called 'Lord Dun's Friendly and Familiar Advices adapted to the various Stations and Conditions of Life.' It was published in Edinburgh in 1754.
In his book, he wrote about a political idea called "passive obedience." This idea suggested that people should always obey the government without questioning it. Another person, Dr. Robert Wallace, who was a minister, disagreed with Lord Dun's ideas that same year. Dr. Wallace described Lord Dun as "a venerable old man, of very great experience, and greatly distinguished for piety," even though they had different views on this topic.
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