Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine

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Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine.

Thomas Erskine, 1st Baron Erskine (born January 10, 1750 in Edinburgh , † November 17, 1823 in Almondell , West Lothian ) was a British politician and nobleman of Scottish descent.

Life

His father was Henry David Erskine, 10th Earl of Buchan , his mother was Agnes, daughter of James Steuart, 1st Baronet Steuart of Goodtrees. As the third son, he had no prospect of receiving his father's title or inheritance. He therefore first embarked on a military career and entered the Royal Navy in 1764 as an officer candidate . In 1768 he was led as an ensign in the 1st Foot Infantry Regiment , where he received his officer's license as a lieutenant in 1773 .

In 1776 he enrolled at Trinity College , Cambridge; he completed his studies in 1778 with a Master of Arts (MA) . In the same year he was admitted to the Lincoln's Inn Bar Association and qualified to serve as a barrister . As early as 1783, he was appointed King's Counsel . At this point he was already considered to be one of the best trustees in England and was often chosen by the defendants to counsel in important political processes initiated by the government.

His political career ran parallel to his legal activities. Between 1783 and 1784 he took over the Portsmouth district for the Whigs as a Member of the House of Commons . In 1783 he worked for Georg von Hannover, Prince of Wales , as Attorney General ; In 1792 he lost this office because of his defense of Thomas Paine . Between 1790 and 1806 he took over the Portsmouth district again as a member of parliament. In 1802 he also worked for Caroline , wife of Georg von Hannover, as Chancellor of the Duchy of Cornwall (an honorary title without official duties). In 1806 he was, possibly at the instigation of Georg von Hannover, from his father Georg III. Appointed to the Privy Council . This was followed by the appointment of Lord High Chancellor , which he held until April 7, 1807.

On February 10, 1806 he was raised as Baron Erskine , of Restormel Castle in the County of Cornwall , to hereditary nobility ( Peerage of the United Kingdom ), in 1815 he was additionally knighted by the Scottish Thistle Order.

He died of pneumonia on November 17, 1823.

Act

During his time as a lawyer he took part in deliberations on the rights of the jury; defended Lord George Gordon and Thomas Paine , among others, and in 1808 spoke out for the rights of Irish Catholics. In 1814 he submitted a petition by 80 clergymen aiming to abolish the slave trade and was a constant member of the liberal opposition.

His work A view of the causes and consequences of the present war with France (London 1797), in which he championed the principles of the French Revolution, had 48 editions. His speeches appeared in 6 volumes collected in London in 1803 (in a new edition by Lord Brougham in 4 volumes in 1847 and a selection with a biography of Walford, 1880). He also wrote a political novel anonymously: Armata (London 1817, 2 vol.), An imitation of Gulliver's travels .

literature

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predecessor Office successor
New title created Baron Erskine
1806-1823 		David Erskine
personal data
SURNAME Erskine, Thomas, 1st Baron Erskine
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Erskine, Thomas Erskine 1st Baron
BRIEF DESCRIPTION British politician, member of the House of Commons and nobleman
DATE OF BIRTH January 10, 1750
PLACE OF BIRTH Edinburgh
DATE OF DEATH November 17, 1823
Place of death Almondell