Thomas Erskine, 1st Earl of Kellie
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Erskine, 1st Earl of Kellie KG (1566 – 12 June 1639) was a Scottish peer.
He married on 30 November 1587 Ann Ogilvie , daughter of Sir Gilbert Ogilvie. A younger brother, James Erskine, married Marie, a daughter of Adam Erskine, Commendator of Cambuskenneth
on 17 May 1594.
Thomas's son Alexander predeceased his father in 1633. He married twice more; firstly in 1604 to Elizabeth Pierpoint, daughter of Sir Henry Pierpoint and secondly Dorothy Smith, daughter of Humphrey Smith of Cheapside.
He was a school classmate and lifelong personal friend of James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) and in 1585 was made one of the Gentlemen of His Majesty's Bedchamber. He was with the king on the occasion of the Gowrie Conspiracy
in 1600, when James was supposedly kidnapped by the Ruthven brothers at their house in Perth. He was afterwards awarded a third of the confiscated land of the Ruthvens and given the title Lord Erskine of Dirletoun (1604).He was made a Privy Councillor in 1601 and accompanied the Duke of Lennox
on a diplomatic visit to France.
He travelled with James to England when James ascended the English throne in 1603 and made Captain of the Guard (1603–1617) and Groom of the Stool (1604) and created Viscount Fenton (or Fentoun)(1606). He acquired Kellie Castle
from the 5th Lord Oliphant in 1613 and was given by the king the barony of Kellie. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1615 and advanced to become Earl of Kellie
in Mar 1619.
He died intestate in London in 1639 and was buried at Pittenweem, Fife. He was succeeded by his grandson, Thomas Erskine, 2nd Earl of Kellie
Biography
Thomas Erskine was the eldest surviving son of Sir Alexander Erskine of Gogar and Margaret Home.He married on 30 November 1587 Ann Ogilvie , daughter of Sir Gilbert Ogilvie. A younger brother, James Erskine, married Marie, a daughter of Adam Erskine, Commendator of Cambuskenneth
Abbot of Cambuskenneth
The Abbot of Cambuskenneth or Abbot of Stirling was the head of the Arrouaisian monastic community of Cambuskenneth Abbey, near Stirling...
on 17 May 1594.
Thomas's son Alexander predeceased his father in 1633. He married twice more; firstly in 1604 to Elizabeth Pierpoint, daughter of Sir Henry Pierpoint and secondly Dorothy Smith, daughter of Humphrey Smith of Cheapside.
He was a school classmate and lifelong personal friend of James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) and in 1585 was made one of the Gentlemen of His Majesty's Bedchamber. He was with the king on the occasion of the Gowrie Conspiracy
John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie
John Ruthven, 3rd Earl of Gowrie was a Scottish nobleman, the second son of William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie and his wife Dorothea Stewart...
in 1600, when James was supposedly kidnapped by the Ruthven brothers at their house in Perth. He was afterwards awarded a third of the confiscated land of the Ruthvens and given the title Lord Erskine of Dirletoun (1604).He was made a Privy Councillor in 1601 and accompanied the Duke of Lennox
Duke of Lennox
The title Duke of Lennox has been created several times in the Peerage of Scotland, for Clan Stewart of Darnley. The Dukedom, named for the district of Lennox in Stirling, was first created in 1581, and had formerly been the Earldom of Lennox. The second Duke was made Duke of Richmond; at his...
on a diplomatic visit to France.
He travelled with James to England when James ascended the English throne in 1603 and made Captain of the Guard (1603–1617) and Groom of the Stool (1604) and created Viscount Fenton (or Fentoun)(1606). He acquired Kellie Castle
Kellie Castle
Kellie Castle is a castle just outside Arncroach, about 5 kilometres north of Pittenweem in the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland.-Early history:The earliest records of Kellie go back to 1150 where it is mentioned in a charter issued by King David I. The first known owner was Robert of London, the...
from the 5th Lord Oliphant in 1613 and was given by the king the barony of Kellie. He was made a Knight of the Garter in 1615 and advanced to become Earl of Kellie
Earl of Kellie
The title Earl of Kellie or Kelly is one of the peerage titles of in the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1619 for Sir Thomas Erskine, who was Captain of the Guard and Groom of the Stool for James VI...
in Mar 1619.
He died intestate in London in 1639 and was buried at Pittenweem, Fife. He was succeeded by his grandson, Thomas Erskine, 2nd Earl of Kellie