"Bobbing" John Erskine, 23rd Earl of Mar
A powerful Scottish nobleman of the Earldom of Mar. At age 14, becomes 23rd Earl on his father's death. The Revolution which ousted James VII in 1689 created severely divided loyalties in Scotland. His father, Charles Erskine, was killed in the first Jacobite rebellion. Following the Scottish Convention has accepted William III as king, protester withdrew from the convention and a small army was raised. Lead by Bonnie Dundee, the rebellion halted following a spectcular victory against the Williamite army at Killiecrankie. Dundee and Charles Erskine were killed and the remaining army fought to a standstill against a religously fanatical regiment, the Cameronians, at Dunkeld. After Scottish Parliament considered James VII to have abdicated the crown, John supports the newly crowned King William. And thus begins his political career.
His contributions and responsibilities through his life to Scotland are shadowed by the political changes of the time and his mysterious exile. History has recorded him as "Bobbing" John for his switching of political loyalties. To understand his actions is to understand the conditions of the time.
1689 at age 14
Up to this point, John has been observing his father's duties as the Earl, both in an
official and informal capacity. Thrust into the responsibilities as Earl following the death
of his father, he beings the task as statesman of Scotland.
1689 - 1707
Through this time, John is growing in his role as statesman for Scotland. He travels to
London and is acting Secretary of State for Scotland.
1707 at age 32
Act of Union
John assists in joining England and Scotland under one rule.
1707 - 1714 at age 39
Scottish decent Queen Anne still in power where he retains the duties of Secretary of State.
1715 at age 40
Offering his services to King George I, John is thwarted. In defiance, he plans a revolution.
Following defeat, he is exiled. History records he exiled himself to Aix-la-Chepelle, France. He corresponded with James Gibbs, a close friend from childhood when they made acquaintance while John was making a Grand Tour of Europe.
Architect
Designs for Alloa Tower and Stirling Castle
Landscape Designer
Inspired by European Gardens, the gardens at Alloa are completely modern and by much
the finest in Scotland and not outdone by many in England.
Engineer
Constructed a massive masonary dam at Gartmorn and created a reservoir to feed
water pumps used to drain his coal mines. It is fed by a lade from the Black Devon
at Forestmill.
Industrialist
Establishing a deep water port on the Forth River.
indepandant Customs House in Alloa
coal master
Governor of Stirling Castle
Heiridiary duty of the Earl of Mar to be Governor of Stirling Castle
Bobbing John got the nickname for his switching loyalties, bobbing from this side to the other side. Being scottish, there is an inherient sense to follow the Scottish King James VII. At age 14 when he became Earl, I would assume his father was on the side of King James VII.
1ST SWITCH
Following William and Mary after King James was ousted is the first switch.
2ND SWITCH
Following King George's thwarts of John's political services, the Earl, with the help of
Henry St. John, plans and commands a rebellion in a Jacobite movement to get the Stuarts back into
power in Britian.
3rd SWITCH
Exiled in France? Perhaps. Another theory is that he made a deal to forfeit his lands
for land grants in the new world. Not so cleanly documented, there may be evidence.
