Charles Erskine
Encyclopedia
Charles Erskine was Lord Advocate
, a Scottish
judge, and a Member of Parliament
.
Charles Erskine was the third son of Sir Charles Erskine, Baronet, of Alva, by his spouse Christian, daughter of Sir James Dundas of Arniston. He was elected Member of Parliament
for Dumfriesshire
in 1722, 1727 and 1734, for the Dumfries Burghs
in 1734, for the Northern Burghs
in 1741.
At the age of twenty he was a candidate for the office of one of the four Regents of Edinburgh University, and after an examination with several competitors obtained that appointment on 26 November 1700 until 17 October 1707. On the 7 November he was appointed the first professor
of Public Law
in the University in 1707, despite the protests of the council. He became a member of the Faculty of Advocates
on July 14, 1711.
He was Solicitor General for Scotland
from June 2, 1725, Lord Advocate
from January 20, 1737 to 1742. He was raised as a Lord of Justiciary, and also to the bench
on November 23, 1744 as Lord Tinwald. He was also Lord Justice Clerk
from June 15, 1748 until his death, at Edinburgh.
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
, a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
judge, and a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
.
Charles Erskine was the third son of Sir Charles Erskine, Baronet, of Alva, by his spouse Christian, daughter of Sir James Dundas of Arniston. He was elected Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Dumfriesshire was a county constituency represented in the of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 2005. It was known as Dumfries from 1950...
in 1722, 1727 and 1734, for the Dumfries Burghs
Dumfries Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)
Dumfries Burghs was a district of burghs constituency of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1918...
in 1734, for the Northern Burghs
Tain Burghs (UK Parliament constituency)
Tain Burghs, was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832, sometimes known as Northern Burghs. It was represented by one Member of Parliament .The first election in Tain Burghs was in 1708...
in 1741.
At the age of twenty he was a candidate for the office of one of the four Regents of Edinburgh University, and after an examination with several competitors obtained that appointment on 26 November 1700 until 17 October 1707. On the 7 November he was appointed the first professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Public Law
Public law
Public law is a theory of law governing the relationship between individuals and the state. Under this theory, constitutional law, administrative law and criminal law are sub-divisions of public law...
in the University in 1707, despite the protests of the council. He became a member of the Faculty of Advocates
Faculty of Advocates
The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as advocates before the courts of Scotland, especially the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary...
on July 14, 1711.
He was Solicitor General for Scotland
Solicitor General for Scotland
Her Majesty's Solicitor General for Scotland is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Lord Advocate, whose duty is to advise the Crown and the Scottish Government on Scots Law...
from June 2, 1725, Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
from January 20, 1737 to 1742. He was raised as a Lord of Justiciary, and also to the bench
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
on November 23, 1744 as Lord Tinwald. He was also Lord Justice Clerk
Lord Justice Clerk
The Lord Justice Clerk is the second most senior judge in Scotland, after the Lord President of the Court of Session.The holder has the title in both the Court of Session and the High Court of Justiciary and is in charge of the Second Division of Judges in the Court of Session...
from June 15, 1748 until his death, at Edinburgh.