John Erskine, 5th Lord Erskine facts for kids

John Erskine, 5th Lord Erskine (born 1487, died 1555) was an important Scottish nobleman. His family had a long history. They also claimed the title of Earl of Mar. This claim was later officially recognized for his son, John. Much later, John Lord Erskine was even called the 17th Earl of Mar.

Serving the Scottish King

John Erskine had an important role in the Scottish court.

Caring for Young King James V

In 1522, when King James V of Scotland was only ten years old, Lord Erskine became his guardian. He was also put in charge of Stirling Castle, where the young king lived. He had very clear orders from Margaret Tudor, the king's mother. He had to keep the castle keys safe. He also had to set a secret password each night for the guards. These rules were even made into a law by the Scottish Parliament in 1523.

Building at Stirling Castle

Lord Erskine also helped improve Stirling Castle. In 1533, he was paid for work on the castle's grounds. This included building new ditches and walls for the park and gardens.

Royal Diplomat and Messenger

Lord Erskine was also a trusted messenger for King James V.

Collecting a Royal Award

In 1535, he traveled to England. His mission was to collect a special award for King James V. This award was the collar of the Order of the Garter from King Henry VIII of England. The award ceremony happened at Windsor Castle. Later, Lord Erskine met King Henry VIII at Thornbury Castle. King James V had given Lord Erskine very specific instructions. He wanted to make sure his place in the ceremony was honored. He wanted his spot to be right after the King of France.

Negotiating Royal Marriages

John Erskine also helped with King James V's marriage plans. He was part of the group that talked about James V marrying Mary of Bourbon. After King James married Madeleine of Valois, Lord Erskine took control of Dunbar Castle. This castle had been used by the French before.

Family Life

John Erskine was the son of Robert Erskine, 4th Lord Erskine. His mother was Isabel Campbell.

Marriage and Children

John Erskine married Lady Margaret Campbell. She was the daughter of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll. They had several children together:

• John Erskine, Earl of Mar (d. 1572)
• Robert Erskine, Master of Erskine
• Thomas Erskine, Master of Erskine
• Sir Alexander Erskine of Gogar
• Catherine Erskine, who married Alexander Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Elphinstone
• Margaret Erskine
• Arthur Erskine of Blackgrange (died 1571)

Notable Descendants

Their daughter, Margaret Erskine, had a son with King James V of Scotland. This son later became known as Regent Moray. Margaret later married Robert Douglas of Lochleven.

Lord Erskine passed away in November 1555. His son, John, became the next Lord Erskine. This son was later made Earl of Mar by Mary, Queen of Scots in 1565.