Background
Born at Cardross, Scotland on 30 March 1662, a younger son of David Erskine, 2nd Lord Cardross, by his secone wife, Mary Bruce, daughter of Sir George Bruce of Carnock. His father was a member of a cadet branch of the Earls of Buchan.
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John Honourable
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He fled from Scotland to join the army of William of Orange, where he was given command of a Regiment of Foot. He landed in England with William"s invading army in 1698, the beginning of the Glorious Revolution. In return for his service, he was given further commands in William"s army, made governor of Stirling and Dumbarton castles.
In 1695, he was appointed a director of the Company of Scotland, and, in the following year, was sent to Holland and other parts of the continent, to manage the affairs of the company.
Erskine was dubbed The Black Colonel. His portrait can be found hanging at The National Trust for Scotland, Royal Burgh of Culross.
Erskine was married four times. There were no children from this marriage.
They had at least one son, Charles, who died unmarried.
Erskine died at Edinburgh on 13 January 1743, aged 80.
