William Erskine
Encyclopedia
William Erskine was a Scottish
orientalist and historian.
The son of David Erskine and his wife Jean Melvin, he was born in Edinburgh
. He attended the Royal High School
, received a doctorate in law from Edinburgh University
, and went to Bombay (now Mumbai
) India
in 1804 where he was master in equity in the recorder's court
of Bombay. He married Maitland Mackintosh, daughter of Sir James Mackintosh by his first wife Katherine Stuart in 1809 in Madras (now Chennai
) and they had fourteen children, one of whom, Frances, married the statistician and civil servant Thomas Farrer, 1st Baron Farrer
. Another daughter, Mary, was head nurse in the Naval Hospital at Therapia during the Crimean War, and looked after Florence Nightingale while she recovered from illness. Erskine's sister-in-law, Mary Mackintosh, married the eminent orientalist Claudius James Rich
. Erskine wrote principally on mediaeval India, but he also completed John Malcolm
's biography of Clive of India after Malcolm's death and translated the memoirs of Zehir-Ed-Din Muhammed Babur, Emperor of Hindustan. He was removed from office in 1823 after being accused of defalcation and for many of his later years resided in Edinburgh
, as well as Pau in South West France. He was Provost
of St Andrews
, 1836–1869.
Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
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...
orientalist and historian.
The son of David Erskine and his wife Jean Melvin, he was born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. He attended the Royal High School
Royal High School (Edinburgh)
The Royal High School of Edinburgh is a co-educational state school administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. The school was founded in 1128 and is one of the oldest schools in Scotland, and has, throughout its history, been high achieving, consistently attaining well above average exam results...
, received a doctorate in law from Edinburgh University
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, and went to Bombay (now Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
) India
British Raj
British Raj was the British rule in the Indian subcontinent between 1858 and 1947; The term can also refer to the period of dominion...
in 1804 where he was master in equity in the recorder's court
Recorder's court
The Recorder's Court, in Detroit, Michigan was a state court of limited jurisdiction which had, for most of its history, exclusive jurisdiction over traffic and ordinance matters, and over all felony cases committed in the City of Detroit...
of Bombay. He married Maitland Mackintosh, daughter of Sir James Mackintosh by his first wife Katherine Stuart in 1809 in Madras (now Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
) and they had fourteen children, one of whom, Frances, married the statistician and civil servant Thomas Farrer, 1st Baron Farrer
Thomas Farrer, 1st Baron Farrer
Thomas Henry Farrer, 1st Baron Farrer was an English civil servant and statistician.Farrer was the son of Thomas Farrer, a solicitor in Lincoln's Inn Fields. Born in London, he was educated at Eton College and Balliol College, Oxford, where he graduated in 1840...
. Another daughter, Mary, was head nurse in the Naval Hospital at Therapia during the Crimean War, and looked after Florence Nightingale while she recovered from illness. Erskine's sister-in-law, Mary Mackintosh, married the eminent orientalist Claudius James Rich
Claudius James Rich
Claudius James Rich , British business agent, traveller and antiquarian scholar,-Biography:Rich was born near Dijon....
. Erskine wrote principally on mediaeval India, but he also completed John Malcolm
John Malcolm
Major-general Sir John Malcolm was a Scottish soldier, statesman, and historian-Early life:Born at Burnfoot, Dumfriesshire, Malcolm was the son of George Malcolm, a gentleman farmer of Eskdale and Burnfoot. Jock, as he was then known, was one of the four Malcolm brothers who attained knighthoods...
's biography of Clive of India after Malcolm's death and translated the memoirs of Zehir-Ed-Din Muhammed Babur, Emperor of Hindustan. He was removed from office in 1823 after being accused of defalcation and for many of his later years resided in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, as well as Pau in South West France. He was Provost
Provost (civil)
A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...
of St Andrews
St Andrews
St Andrews is a university town and former royal burgh on the east coast of Fife in Scotland. The town is named after Saint Andrew the Apostle.St Andrews has a population of 16,680, making this the fifth largest settlement in Fife....
, 1836–1869.
Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
List of University of Edinburgh people is a list of notable graduates and former faculty of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. The University is associated with ten Nobel Prize winners and three Prime Ministers....