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Clan Elphinstone
Clan Elphinstone is a Lowland Scottish clan.[2] History Origins of the clanThe 'de Erth' family took their name from the lands of Airth which lie close to the barony of Plean in Stirlingshire.[2] This family probably erected the first Plean Castle.[2] The de Erth family ended in an heiress, and lands that were acquired by her husband near Tranent near East Lothian were probably named after the heiress's family.[2] The name first appears in about 1235 in East Lothian in a deed by Alanus de Swinton in which a mention is made of the name 'de Elfinstun'.[2] It is likely that de Swinton's son, John, who owned the lands, went on to become John de Elfinstun.[2] There is a family tradition however, that claims that the family are descended from Flemish knights (or one knight) called Helphenstein.[2] Another theory suggests that the name is derived from Old English Alpins tun ("the farmstead of Alpin").[2] 14th, 15th and 16th centuriesSir John de Elfinstun married Margaret of Seton who was a niece of Robert the Bruce.[2] One of John's descendants was William Elfinstun who became rector of Kirkmichael (St. Michael's Church) in Glasgow.[2] William studied Civil and Canon Law in Paris and he eventually became Professor of Law at that university.[2] He also became Bishop of Aberdeen in 1484 and later Lord High Chancellor of Scotland.[2] William later obtained a bull from Pope Alexander VI in 1494 for founding the University of Aberdeen.[2] A cousin of bishop William was Sir Alexander Elphinstone who was created Lord Elphinstone by James IV of Scotland.[2] Alexander and the king were together killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.[3][2] Alexander's son, another Alexander Elphinstone, was killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547.[2] In 1599 the fourth Lord Elphinstone was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Scotland.[2] 18th century and Jacobite risingsA cadet branch of the Clan Elphinstone were the Lords Balmerino.[2] They were staunch Jacobites and the sixth Lord Balmerino was captured after the Battle of Culloden and beheaded in August 1746.[2] The eleventh Lord Elphinstone was lieutenant governor of Edinburgh Castle.[2] 19th and 20th centuriesOne of the eleventh Lord's younger brothers was George Keith Elphinstone who was a distinguished naval officer.[2] He served on ships that protected the British shipping off the east coast of America.[2] He was created Baron Keith which was promoted to the rank of Viscount in 1814. The Viscount's nephew was William George Elphinstone who was a colonel at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.[2] He was later promoted to commander-in-chief of the Bengal army in 1837 and led the disastrous Afghan campaign of 1841.[2] Clan ChiefThe present Chief of Clan Elphinstone is Alexander Lord Elphinstone who succeeded his father in 1994 at the age of 14. Clan CastlesSee alsoReferences
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