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Thomas Erskine, Lord Erskine

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Thomas Erskine (left) could not inherit the title of Earl of Mar due to the Writ of Attainder for treason passed against his father, John (right).
Portrait of Thomas, Lord Erskine, painted by David Allan.

Thomas Erskine, Lord Erskine (1705 – 16 March 1766) was the son of John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar. He could not inherit the title of Earl of Mar due to the Writ of Attainder for treason passed against his father in 1716 for his role in the First Jacobite Rebellion (1715).[1]

Thomas, Lord Erskine, son of John, 6th and 23rd Earl of Mar was initiated in Lodge Kilwinning Scots Arms, Edinburgh, No.3, in 1736. His name is second on the list of registrations in Grand Lodge made by Kilwinning Scots Arms in 1739. This Lodge had large military personnel and is now defunct. Lord Erskine, being under the shadow of his father's attainder, and being denied succession to the title of Earl of Mar, led the quiet life of a country gentleman and had more time to devote himself to the study of Freemasonry. He was elected Grand Master Mason of Scotland in 1749. This undoubtedly led to a quickening of interest in the Craft in Alloa. Thereafter stray names of Alloa men begin to appear in the minutes of the Lodge of Stirling. Within five years a Depute Lodge was regularly meeting in Alloa.[2]

On 1 October 1741, he married Charlotte Hope, daughter of the Charles Hope, 1st Earl of Hopetoun. He died without issue.[1]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Melville Henry Massue Ruvigny Et Raineval (1 January 2003). The Jacobite Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage, and Grants of Honour, Extracted, by Permission, from the Stuart Papers Now in Possession of His Majesty the King at Windsor Castle, and Supplemented by Biographical and Genealogical Notes. Genealogical Publishing Com. pp. 114–5. ISBN 978-0-8063-1716-8. Retrieved 27 September 2013.
  2. ^ James W. Saunders and Robert Wright (1957). The Erskines of Mar and Freemasonry from The History of The Lodge of Alloa No.69. D. Pearson & Son. pp. Chapter 2, pages 9–11. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Stirling Burghs
1728–1734
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Stirlingshire
1747
Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
James Erskine
Member of Parliament for Clackmannanshire
1747–1754
Vacant
Title next held by
James Abercromby
Masonic offices
Preceded by Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge of Scotland

1749–1750
Succeeded by