David Montagu Erskine, 2nd Baron Erskine was a British diplomat and politician.
Background
A member of Clan Erskine, Erskine was the eldest son of Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine, fourth son of Henry Erskine, 10th Earl of Buchan. His mother was Frances, daughter of Daniel Moore, Member of Parliament. Erskine did not practise law. Instead he was elected as Member of Parliament for Portsmouth in 1806, in place of his father, who was appointed Lord Chancellor.
Education
He was educated at Charterhouse, Winchester and Trinity College, Cambridge.
Career
After matriculating in 1796, he was called to the Bar, Lincoln"s Inn, in 1802. At the request of Erskine"s father to Charles James Fox, then Foreign Secretary, he was appointed Minister to the United States later that year. In 1809, Erskine was recalled by the Foreign Secretary, George Canning, for having offered the withdrawal of the Orders in Council of 1807 against the Americans and his resolution of the Chesapeake-Leopard Affair.
He thus remained out of favour and unemployed until 1824, when he inherited his father"s title and was appointed Minister to Stuttgart.
He subsequently transferred to Munich in 1828. He retired in 1843.
Lord Erskine had lived in the United States prior to his appointment as Minister to Washington.
The portrait of Lady Erskine by Gilbert Stuart was considered one of his masterpieces. They had twelve children:
Honorary
Thomas Americus Erskine, later 3rd Baron Erskine (1802-1877), diplomat.
Honorary John Cadwallader Erskine, later 4th Baron Erskine (1804-1882), diplomat. Honorary Steuarta Erskine (1810-1863), married Timothy Yeats Brown.
Honorary Elizabeth Erskine (c 1812-1886), married Sir Street Vincent Hawkins-Whitshed, 2nd Baronet.
Lieutenant-Colonel Honorary David Montagu Erskine (1816–1903), soldier. Honorary Edward Morris Erskine (1817–1883), diplomat.
Honorary James Stuart Erskine (1821–1904), created Graf Erskine by Ludwig II of Bavaria.
Honorary Frances Erskine (died 1876), married Gabriel Shawe. Honorary Sevilla Erskine (died 1835), married Sir Henry Howard.
Honorary Harriett Erskine (died 1855), married Charles Woomass.
Honorary Jane Plumer Erskine (died 1846), married James Callander of Craigforth and Ardkinglas. Honorary Mary Erskine (died 1874), married Graf Hermann von Paumgarten.
Their great-grandson, Graf Karl Theodor zu Törring-Jettenbach, married Princess Elizabeth of Greece and Denmark.
Thomas Americus was named after Thomas Cadwalader, Lady Erskine"s brother, who became an officer during the War of 1812. John Cadwallader was named after her father. Lady Erskine died in Genoa in March 1843.
Lord Erskine died at his home of Butler"s Green in Sussex in March 1855, aged 78, and was buried at Cuckfield.
She died in March 1886.
Membership
2nd United Kingdom Parliament.