Erskine, David Montagu., 1776-1855 2nd Baron Erskine diplomat

Eldest son of Thomas, 1st Baron Erskine. In 1806 he became Minister Plenipotentiary to the U.S., and later succeeded his father as 2nd Baron 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.