John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1741–1825) facts for kids
John Francis Erskine, Earl of Mar (1741–1825) was an important Scottish nobleman. He is known for having his family's old title, the Earl of Mar, given back to him. This happened in June 1824, when he was 83 years old. His family had lost this title many years before.
The title was taken away from his ancestor, John Erskine, in 1716. This was because his ancestor supported a group called the Jacobites. John Francis Erskine passed away in August 1825, just a year after getting his title back.
There is some confusion about how to count John Francis Erskine's place in the family line. Some people consider him the 24th Earl in the first creation of the title. Others see him as the seventh Earl in a later creation. This mix-up came from a disagreement about who should inherit the title after his grandson died.
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Who Was John Francis Erskine?
John Francis Erskine was born in 1741. He lived a long life, seeing many changes in Scotland and Britain. He was part of a very old and important Scottish family, the Erskines. For much of his life, his family did not officially hold the title of Earl of Mar.
Becoming the Earl of Mar
The title of Earl of Mar is one of the oldest noble titles in Scotland. It goes back many centuries. However, John Francis Erskine's ancestor, another John Erskine, lost the title. This happened because of his political beliefs.
What is a Forfeited Title?
When a title is "forfeit," it means it has been taken away by the government or the king. This usually happens as a punishment. In this case, the title was taken away by an act of Parliament. This is a law made by the country's government.
Why Was the Title Lost?
The title was lost because John Erskine, an earlier Earl of Mar, had "Jacobite sympathies." The Jacobites were people who wanted to bring back the old royal family, the Stuarts, to the throne of Great Britain. They were against the new ruling family. Supporting the Jacobites was seen as treason by the government at the time. So, John Erskine was "attainted," which means he was declared guilty of treason and lost his rights and property, including his title.
A Long-Awaited Restoration
For over a hundred years, the Erskine family did not officially hold the Earl of Mar title. But in June 1824, a new law was passed. This law gave the title back to John Francis Erskine. It was a big moment for him and his family. He was 83 years old when this happened. It showed that the government was willing to forgive past political actions.
Understanding the Earls of Mar
The history of the Earls of Mar is quite complex. There have been different ways the title was created or passed down. This led to some disagreements in the 1800s about who was the rightful Earl. Because of these debates, John Francis Erskine is sometimes counted as the 24th Earl. Other times, he is called the 7th Earl. This depends on which historical line of the title you are following.
