James St Clair-Erskine, 5th Earl of Rosslyn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Earl of Rosslyn
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| Member of the House of Lords Lord Temporal |
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| In office 6 September 1890 – 10 August 1939 Hereditary Peerage |
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| Preceded by | The 4th Earl of Rosslyn |
| Succeeded by | The 6th Earl of Rosslyn |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
James Francis Harry St Clair-Erskine
6 March 1869 |
| Died | 10 August 1939 (aged 70) |
| Spouses |
Violet Aline Vyner
(m. 1890; div. 1902)Anna Robinson
(m. 1905; div. 1907)Vera Mary Bayley
(m. 1908) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parents | Robert St Clair-Erskine, 4th Earl of Rosslyn Blanche Adeliza FitzRoy |
| Relatives | Millicent Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland (sister) Sybil Fane, Countess of Westmorland (sister) Lady Angela Forbes (sister) James St Clair-Erskine, 3rd Earl of Rosslyn (grandfather) Serena Dunn Rothschild (granddaughter) Nell Dunn (granddaughter) |
James Francis Harry St Clair-Erskine, 5th Earl of Rosslyn (born March 16, 1869 – died August 10, 1939) was a Scottish soldier, writer, and a member of the nobility. Before he inherited his family's title in 1890, he was known as Lord Loughborough. He served in the military and wrote several books during his lifetime.
Who Was James St Clair-Erskine?
James Francis Harry St Clair-Erskine was the oldest son of Robert St Clair-Erskine, 4th Earl of Rosslyn. His mother was Blanche Adeliza FitzRoy. She was known as a great hostess in the Victorian era. She met many famous people, including politicians like Benjamin Disraeli and William Gladstone.
James had several siblings. His sisters included Lady Millicent St Clair-Erskine, Lady Sybil St Clair-Erskine, and Lady Angela St Clair-Erskine. He also had a brother, Hon. Alexander St Clair-Erskine. His mother had two older daughters from a previous marriage, including Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick.
His grandparents were James St Clair-Erskine, 3rd Earl of Rosslyn, and Frances Wemyss. Through his mother, he was also related to Augustus FitzRoy, 3rd Duke of Grafton.
What Was His Career Like?
James St Clair-Erskine had an interesting career with different roles.
Military Service
From 1886 to 1890, he was a Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion Northamptonshire Regiment. In 1890, he became a Second Lieutenant with the Royal Horse Guards.
He became the Earl of Rosslyn on September 6, 1890, after his father passed away. He inherited Rosslyn Castle and Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland. He also inherited coal mines and a luxury yacht.
From 1890 to 1897, he was a Captain in the Fifeshire Light Horse Volunteers. He served in the Second Boer War in South Africa. During this war, he was captured twice by the enemy. He later wrote a book about his experiences called Twice Captured.
After facing financial difficulties, he left his military position in the Fife. From 1915 to 1917, he served as a Major in the King's Royal Rifle Corps.
Other Roles
In 1900, Lord Rosslyn worked as a war correspondent for the Daily Mail newspaper. This meant he reported on the war from the battlefield. In 1904, he became Secretary to the Secretary of State for Scotland. This was an important government role.
Financial Challenges
Lord Rosslyn faced significant financial challenges during his life. He made some very large bets, which he lost. These losses led to him being declared bankrupt in 1896. As a result, many of his family's valuable possessions, like silver and gold items, had to be sold at an auction. He wrote about his experiences in his autobiography, My Gamble With Life.
What Was His Personal Life Like?
Lord Rosslyn was married three times and had five children.
First Marriage
On July 19, 1890, he married Violet Aline Vyner. She was the daughter of Robert Charles de Grey Vyner. The Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII, attended their wedding. The Prince was a close friend of Lord Rosslyn and became the godfather to his son.
James and Violet had two children before they divorced in 1902:
- Lady Rosabelle Millicent St Clair-Erskine (1891–1956). She married David Cecil Bingham and later John Charles Brand.
- Francis Edward Scudamore St Clair-Erskine, Lord Loughborough (1892–1929). He was known for his financial adventures. He married Margaret Sheila Mackellar Chisholm. They later divorced, and she married Prince Dmitri Alexandrovich of Russia.
After their divorce, Violet married race car driver Charles Jarrott.
Second Marriage
On March 21, 1905, Lord Rosslyn married Anna Robinson, an American actress from Minneapolis. They divorced in 1907.
Third Marriage
His third marriage was on October 8, 1908, to Vera Mary Bayley. She was the daughter of Eric Edward Bayley.
Together, James and Vera had three children:
- Maj. Hon. James Alexander Wedderburn St Clair-Erskine (1909–1973).
- Lady Mary Sybil St Clair-Erskine (born 1912). She married Sir Philip Dunn, 2nd Baronet, and later Robin Francis Campbell and Charles Raymond McCabe. She remarried Sir Philip Dunn later in life.
- Maj. Hon. David Simon St Clair-Erskine (1917–1985). He married Antonia Mary Kelly.
Lord Rosslyn passed away on August 10, 1939. His grandson, Anthony, inherited his title. His third wife, Vera, passed away in 1975.
His Grandchildren
Through his eldest son, Lord Loughborough, he was the grandfather of:
- Anthony Hugh Francis Harry St Clair-Erskine, 6th Earl of Rosslyn (1917–1977).
- Hon. Peter George Alexander St Clair-Erskine (1918–1939), who served in the Royal Air Force.
Through his daughter, Lady Mary, he was the grandfather of:
- Serena Mary Dunn (1934–2019), who married Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild.
- Nell Mary Dunn (born 1936), who became a well-known playwright and author.
Images for kids
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James Francis Harry St Clair-Erskine, 5th Earl of Rosslyn.
