Sir Charles Erskine, 1st Baronet of Alva facts for kids

Sir Charles Erskine, 1st Baronet (born 1643, died 1690), was an important Scottish politician. He came from Alva, a place in Scotland. Sir Charles was a member of the Scottish Conventions in 1665 and 1667. He also served in the Scottish Parliament from 1689 until his death in 1690.

Sir Charles Erskine's Early Life

Charles Erskine was born in 1643. His family lived in a special house called Alva House. His father had built this house in 1636, a few years before Charles was born.

Charles was the third son in his family. However, he was the oldest son who lived to become an adult. His father was also named Sir Charles Erskine. His mother was Mary Hope. Her father was Sir Thomas Hope, a very important person.

When his father passed away in 1663, Charles became the new owner of Alva House. He was now known as the "laird" of Alva.

Becoming a Baronet

In 1666, Sir Charles bought a special title called a "baronetcy." This title was connected to a place called Nova Scotia, which is now part of Canada. Back then, the Scottish Parliament created these titles to raise money. Most people who bought these titles did not actually visit Nova Scotia. It was more about getting a special rank and helping the government.

Sir Charles Erskine's Political Career

Sir Charles Erskine was a very active politician. He was chosen to be a "Shire Commissioner" for Clackmannanshire. A Shire Commissioner was like a representative for a specific area, similar to how a Member of Parliament represents a region today. He served in this role during important meetings called Conventions in 1665 and 1667.

Later, in 1689, he was elected to the Scottish Parliament. This time, he represented the area of Stirlingshire. He continued to serve in Parliament until he passed away.

Sir Charles Erskine died on June 4, 1690. He was 46 years old.

Sir Charles Erskine's Family

Around 1670, Sir Charles Erskine married Christian Dundas. Her father was Sir James Dundas. They lived near Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland.

Sir Charles and Christian had at least four sons:

• Sir James Erskine, 2nd Baronet (born around 1672, died 1693). He sadly died in a battle called the Battle of Landen.
• Sir John Erskine, 3rd Baronet (born 1672, died 1739). He also became a politician, serving in both the Scottish Parliament and later the British Parliament.
• Robert Erskine (born 1677, died 1718). He became a doctor, known as an "archiater." He worked for Peter the Great, a famous ruler in Russia.
• Charles Erskine, Lord Tinwald (born 1680, died 1763). He became a judge and also served in Parliament.

Sir Charles also had a daughter named Catherine. She married Patrick Campbell, Lord Monzie. He was a legal colleague, or fellow lawyer, of her brother, Lord Tinwald.

One of Sir Charles's grandchildren was James Erskine, Lord Alva, who also became a notable figure.