John Erskine, Earl of Mar, KT (1675 – May 1732) was a Scottish politician who was a key figure in the Jacobite movement. He held the title of the 23rd Earl of Mar from the earldom's first creation and was the sixth earl in the title's seventh creation. Erskine has been noted as a politically savvy statesman who was adept at navigating the landscape of early 18th-century British politics.
The eldest son of Charles Erskine, Earl of Mar, Erskine inherited estates mired in financial difficulties. In 1714, following the accession of George I, he found himself without an official position and subsequently championed the Jacobite cause. He raised an army to contest Hanoverian rule, commanding it against a government army at the Battle of Sheriffmuir in November 1715. Despite having a numerical advantage, the battle proved to be a strategic defeat. After suffering another defeat at Fetteresso, Erskine sought refuge in France, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Mar's involvement in the Jacobite uprising led to a writ of attainder against him for treason in 1716, though it was posthumously reversed in 1824. Erskine died in exile in 1732 in Aachen. His legacy has been associated with historical and political developments in Scotland during the early 18th century.
Clan Mar historical background The Mormaerdom of Mar, one of Scotland's seven historical provinces or kingdoms during the Pictish era, was governed by a Mormaer, an ancient Pictish title analogous to an Earl. This title, indicative of a high-ranking noble status second only to the monarchy.The House of Mar is recognised as one of Scotland's oldest noble houses, with its origins tracing back to at least the 11th century. The earldom incorporated Celtic and feudal European traditions, making it one of the most ancient hereditary titles in the British Isles. It had direct ties to the Kingdom of Mar, which was among the nine established Pictish Kingdoms. Initially, the leaders of Mar were known as "mormaors", a term signifying their elevated position in Pictish society. By the onset of the 10th century, this title evolved into the more familiar Saxon title of "earl".
The motto of Clan Erskine is Je Pense Plus (French for "I think more"). The name Erskine in Scottish Gaelic is Arascain, which translates to "air an sgian" – meaning "upon the knife." This heraldic emblem has a historical association with Longwy-sur-le-Doubs, a town in the Jura department of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France, known for its strategic importance in the defense of the Kingdom of Burgundy.
Geographically, the Mormaerdom of Mar was situated in what is now Aberdeenshire, spanning the area between the River Dee and the River Don, extending from coastal regions to the mountainous interiors. The Earldom of Mar, as declared by the Ulster King-of-Arms, is considered one of the most ancient titles in Great Britain, and possibly even in Europe.
Mar Lodge Estate represents only a small portion of the medieval Earldom of Mar and did not reach its current size and configuration until the 20th century.John Sinclair House (1995). Mar Lodge Estate Grampian: An Archaeological Survey, The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, p. 5, After John Erskine, the 6th Earl of Mar, participated in the Jacobite Rising of 1715, the estate was forfeited in 1716, marking the end of the feudal landholding system in the Earldom of Mar. The process of resolving the forfeiture extended over many years. Today, the estate is estimated to represent 33,000 hectares of the Cairngorms National Park.John Sinclair House (1995). Mar Lodge Estate Grampian: An Archaeological Survey, The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, p. 7
Kildrummy Castle, located near Kildrummy in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, historically served as the principal residence of the Earls of Mar.The Erskine family was known for their unwavering allegiance to the Clan Bruce. A notable figure within the family, Sir Robert de Erskine, distinguished himself during his era. His prominence and trustworthiness were recognised by King David II of Scotland, son of King Robert The Bruce, who entrusted him with the important role of custodian of Stirling Castle, a key strategic stronghold in the country.
Early life
John Erskine, the sixth Earl of Mar, was inducted as a Knight of the Thistle on 10 August 1706, considered a prestige honour that boosted his public visibility. The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, tied closely to Scotland, was reestablished in its current form in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland. King James VII declared this as a revival of an older tradition. The order is symbolized by the thistle, Scotland's national flower, and carries the motto Nemo me impune lacessit (Latin for "No one provokes me with impunity"). Historical lore, as noted in the 1687 warrant, recounts that King Achaius of Scots established the Order of the Thistle in dedication to Saint Andrew after witnessing a celestial symbol of the saint's cross during a 786 battle against Angles led by Aethelstan. According to the statutes set by James VII during the order's revival, it was to maintain the original composition of "the Sovereign and twelve Knights-Brethren", a symbolic reference to Jesus Christ and his Twelve Apostles. A notable point in the order's history involves John Erskine, the 6th Earl of Mar. He was the only member ever to be stripped of his knighthood. (Interestingly, unlike the other British orders, the statutes of the Order of the Thistle do not specify a procedure for the removal of a knight.) Nonetheless, this action was taken against him by the newly established Hanoverian dynasty, due to his involvement in the Jacobite rising of 1715.1687 Warrant and 1687 Statutes, quoted in Statutes (1987) pp. 1–3
Mar was the hereditary governor of Stirling Castle. Most of the current buildings in the castle were constructed between 1490 and 1600, during which time Stirling was developed as a principal royal centre by the Stuart kings James IV, James V, and James VI. In 1709, Mar supervised repairs to the castle. He drafted a proposal for the southeast elevation, inscribing it with Justitia et patria restituta (in Latin, "Justice and country restored").
In the early 18th century, Erskine was active first in Scottish politics and subsequently, following the Union of Scotland and England, in national British politics. He was aligned with a party supportive of the government and thereby was appointed as one of the Commissioners for the Union. His subsequently was appointed as a Scottish Secretary of State. Following the Union of 1707, Mar became a representative peer for Scotland, Keeper of the Signet, and a member of the Privy Council. In 1713, under the Tory administration, he was appointed a British Secretary of State, aiming to showcase his versatility and non-partisan capability to work across party lines.
In 1714, Mar expressed loyalty to the newly crowned King George I. However, his loyalty was contingent on his desire for the dissolution of the union; Mar was willing to support George I as long as he believed the king could deliver on this goal. Despite his efforts, like many Tories at the time, he was relieved of his office. In August 1715, Mar pivoted politically towards his ethnic Scottish heritage and Jacobite sympathies. He discreetly travelled to Scotland, where he became a leading figure in the Jacobite movement supporting James Edward, (the "Old Pretender"). His shift to the Jacobite cause occurred during a period that witnessed the arrest and impeachment of Robert Harley and the exile of other notable Tories, including Lord Bolingbroke and the Duke of Ormonde.
1715 rising
In 1714, following the Elector of Hanover's ascension to the British throne after the death of Queen Anne, many of her erstwhile supporters felt estranged from the new government, including the Earl of Mar. Feeling alienated, he chose to side with the Jacobite movement. From September of that year, he began mobilizing forces for a southward march, as part of a larger strategy to unite with English Jacobite groups and ultimately aim to reinstate a Stuart monarch. It was during this period of shifting allegiances and active engagement in the Jacobite cause that his English detractors labeled him "Bobbing John", a nickname that reflected their perception of his changing loyalties.
Gathering with numerous Highland chieftains at Aboyne, Eskin, committed to fighting for Scotland's independence. On September 6, 1715, at Braemar, he initiated the Jacobite rising of 1715 by proclaiming James VIII as the King of Scotland, England, France and Ireland. Under his leadership, the Jacobite forces gradually expanded.
The Declaration of the Earl of Mar on September 9, 1715, was a rallying call issued by John Erskine, the Earl of Mar, during the Jacobite Rising of 1715. In the declaration, Mar announced that King James III and VIII, recognised by the Jacobites as the legitimate king, had entrusted him with the command of Scottish forces. Mar, along with several Scottish nobles and military leaders, determined that the time had come to take up arms openly to restore King James to the throne and to make Scotland independent from what they viewed as oppressive foreign rule.
The declaration noted that several key figures were present at the council held at Aboyne, including Lord Huntley, Lord Tullibardine, the Earl Marischal, the Earl of Southesk, representatives from various clans, and other influential gentlemen. The statement intended to present the assembly as garnering broad support among the Scottish nobility for the Jacobite cause.
Mar called on all loyal subjects to swiftly mobilise their forces and join him at Braemar to march under the King's Standard. He emphasised the importance of discipline among the troops, forbidding plundering and disorder, and expressed confidence in the justice of their cause. Mar invoked divine support, stating that "in so honourable, good, and just a cause, we cannot doubt of the assistance, direction, and blessing of Almighty God, who has so often rescued the Royal Family of Stuart and our country from sinking under oppression". The declaration was specifically addressed to the Baillie and gentlemen of the Lordship of Kildrummie, urging them to comply with these orders as a matter of duty.
During the Jacobite rising of 1689, John Farquharson was commissioned as a colonel by John John Graham of Claverhouse. John Farquharson hailed from a family who was sympathetic to the Jacobite cause, and James Farquharson of Balmoral was involved in both the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite risings.
As a military leader, Mar faced significant challenges. Decisions such as a prolonged stay at Perth and a simulated attack on Stirling, comprised strategic moves in a broader military campaign, though they had limited success in advancing his cause. During the Battle of Sheriffmuir in November 1715, Mar commanded an army that outnumbered the forces of his opponent, the Duke of Argyll, though the battle concluded without a decisive victor.
While Mar's perceived caution is said to have caused to missed opportunities, historians note the complex circumstances and the challenging decisions he faced as a commander that clouded his ability to identify risks and opportunities. The Jacobite rising of 1715, despite not achieving its ultimate goal, was later encapsulated as a significant event in Scottish historical memory that reflected the Scottish forces' battlefield courage and their cause's noble national aspirations.