Charles Erskine also spelled Areskine (1680 – 5 April 1763), of Tinwald and Barjarg, Dumfries, and Alva, Clackmannan was Lord Advocate, a Scottish judge, and a politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1722 to 1742.
He was educated at the High School of Edinburgh and studied law at the University of Edinburgh from 1693.[1] At the age of 20 he was a candidate for the office of one of the four Regents of the University of Edinburgh, and after an examination with several competitors obtained that appointment on 26 November 1700 until 17 October 1707. On 7 November 1707 he was appointed the first Professor of Public Law at the University, despite the protests of the council. He was at Utrecht in about 1710 and became a member of the Faculty of Advocates on 14 July 1711.[2]
In 1749 he purchased Alva House from his nephew and enlarged and remodelled the property.[3] His Edinburgh property at this time (required to attend the Edinburgh courts) was at Mylne's Square, opposite the Tron Kirk 200m east of the courts.[4]
In 1755 he purchased Drumsheugh House west of Edinburgh. He commissioned James Adam to extend the property and refront in a more modern idiom.[5] The house was two storey and basement in form.[6] The house was demolished to create Drumsheugh Place.
Family
He married Grizel Grierson, daughter of John Grierson of Barjarg on 21 December 1712,[1] through whom he inherited Barjarg Tower.
Erskine married as his second wife Elizabeth Maxwell, widow of Dr William Maxwell of Preston, Lancashire, and daughter of William Harestanes of Craigs, Kirkcudbright on 26 August 1753. He died at Edinburgh on 5 April 1763 leaving two sons by his first wife:
An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice of Scotland, by Sir David Dalrymple of Hailes, Bt., with some further editing and additions, Edinburgh, 1849.