Biography

Henry Erskine. (0-1765) (aka. 5th Baronet of Alva - Harry Erskine)

Son of John Erskine (d. 1739), 3rd of Alva, and Catherine Sinclair. Married (1761) to Janet Wedderburn (or Wederburn), a sister of Alexander Wedderburn, 1st Earl of Rosslyn. According to LJ140163 a cousin of Andrew Erskine.

In 1747 he inherited the Baronetcy of Alva from his older brother Charles Erskine, who was killed at the battle of Val on July 2, 1747. In 1749 he was elected MP for Ayr, and from 1754 until his death for Anstruther. At the time of his death he was even a Lt-Gen in the army, as well as Secretary to the Order of the Thistle.

Boswell describes him as "[a]n intimate friend of Lord Bute" [PM in 1762-3] in Life of Johnson. An acquaintance or friend of David Hume (Link).

Life with James Boswell:

Boswell spoke with Sir Henry at Lady Northumberland's on January 14, 1763, arguing that his friend, Andrew Erskine, "should have a company". Boswell referred to Andrew E. as a cousin of Sir Henry's. As far as I can see from the family trees, Sir Henry and Andrew only shares ancestors 6 and 7 generations back, respectively (John Erskine (d. 1552) and Margaret Campbell). Sir Henry and James Boswell are actually closer relatives, Charles Erskine (d. 1663) and Mary Hope (b. 1629) being the great-grandparents of them both. That wasn't on the paternal side, though.

External links:

• Erskine family tree - from Stirnet

This article was last updated at February 16 2008 20:40:43 CET

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