John Erskine (Royal Navy officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir James Erskine
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|---|---|
| Born | 13 July 1806 |
| Died | 23 June 1887 (aged 80) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 Royal Navy |
| Rank | Admiral |
| Commands held | HMS Orion |
| Battles/wars | Crimean War |
Admiral John Elphinstone Erskine (born July 13, 1806 – died June 23, 1887) was an important officer in the Royal Navy. He also became a Liberal politician. He served in the House of Commons, which is like the main law-making body in the UK, from 1865 to 1874.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Elphinstone Erskine was part of a well-known Scottish family called Clan Erskine. His father was David Erskine. His mother was Hon. Keith Elphinstone. Young John went to the Royal Naval College, Portsmouth. This was a special school for future naval officers. He joined the Royal Navy in 1819 when he was just 13 years old.
Erskine began his career commanding a small warship called HMS Arachne in 1829. This was in the Jamaica area, which was an important naval base. He then served in the Mediterranean Sea. He was promoted to captain on June 28, 1839.
Exploring the Pacific Ocean
From 1847, Captain Erskine was in charge of HMS Havannah in the Australian region. This was a very exciting time for him. Between June and October 1849, he sailed to many islands in the Pacific. He visited places like Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Fiji, the New Hebrides, the Loyalty Islands, and New Caledonia.
In 1850, he explored the Solomon Islands and other nearby islands. He wrote a book about his travels called Journal of Cruise among the Islands of the Western Pacific in H.M.'s ship Havannah. It was published in 1853. He also wrote about the gold discoveries in Australia after visiting the goldfields.
Crimean War and Later Service
During the Crimean War, Erskine commanded HMS Orion. He was in the Baltic Sea during this conflict. After the war, he was present at a big naval parade in England in 1856. In 1857, he was stationed off the coast of Central America. From 1859 to 1861, he was the Second-in-Command of the Channel Squadron, a group of ships protecting the English Channel. He continued to rise through the ranks. He became a vice-admiral in 1864 and a full admiral in 1869.
A Career in Politics
After his impressive naval career, John Elphinstone Erskine decided to enter politics. In the 1865 election, he was chosen as a Member of Parliament for Stirlingshire. He held this position until 1874.
Working for Pacific Islanders
In parliament, he was a key leader in a group that worked to protect people living on the Pacific Islands. This group helped create the Pacific Islanders Protection Act of 1872. This law aimed to stop unfair practices and protect the rights of islanders. Erskine also served as a justice of the peace for Stirlingshire. This role involved helping to keep law and order in his local area.
Supporting Exploration and Human Rights
Erskine was very interested in geography and human rights. He was a member of the Royal Geographical Society, which promotes exploration and understanding of the world. He also joined the Aborigines' Protection Society. He joined this group because of his experiences in the navy, where he saw efforts to stop slavery. He also saw how European visitors affected the people of the Pacific Ocean during his travels.
Later Life
John Elphinstone Erskine never married. He passed away in June 1887 at the age of 80.
