Letters of David Montagu Erskine (1776-1855), 2nd Baron Erskine

The material is composed of: letter from Brighton mentioning inability to attend a dinner of the Worshipful Company of Weavers and the fact that his father (Thomas Erskine (1750-1823), 1st Baron Erskine) was an Honorary Member of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers; and a note indicating payment of debts by Lord Erskine.

The diplomat David Montagu Erskine was born in 1776. He was the son of Thomas Erskine (1750-1823), 1st Baron Erskine. He was educated at Westminster School and then studied at Christ Church, Oxford. He was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1802. In 1806 however he was elected MP for Portsmouth and he became Lord Chancellor. The same year he was appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to the USA. He returned to Britain in 1809, and then in 1824 was appointed Minister Plenipoteniary in Stuttgart, Germany and then to a post in Munich. Erskine married three times: firstly in 1799 to Frances (died 1843), daughter of General John Cadwalader, of Philadelphia, USA, one of the leaders of the American Revolution; secondly in 1843 to Ann Bond (died 1851), daughter of John Travis; and, thirdly in 1852, to Anna Calderwood. David Montagu Erskine, 2nd Baron Erskine, died on 19 March 1855. The 3rd Baron Erskine and 4th Baron Erskine were his sons Thomas Americus (1802-1877) and John Cadwallader (d. 1882) through his first marriage.

Generally open for consultation to bona fide researchers, but please contact repository for details in advance.

Among miscellaneous Scottish letters, purchased E. Hall, Harrogate, October 1976, Accession no. E76.43.

The biographical/administrative history was compiled using the following material: (1) Burke, Sir Bernard. and Burke Ashworth P. A genealogical and heraldic history of the peerage and baronetage, the Privy Council, and knightage. 87th edition. London: Burke's Peerage Ltd., 1929. (2) Stephen, Leslie. and Lee, Sidney (eds.). Dictionary of national biography Vol.6. Drant-Finan. London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1908.

Compiled by Graeme D Eddie, Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections Division.

Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.

Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.

The UK National Register of Archives (NRA), updated by the Historical Manuscripts Commission, notes: correspondence with Lord Palmerston, 1832-1850, Southampton University Library, Ref. MS 62 NRA 12889 Temple; and, correspondence with Lord Aberdeen, 1841-1845, British Library, Manuscript Collections, Ref. Add MSS 43141, 43244.