Charles Erskine, Lord Tinwald

Alva House early 20th c postcard

Erskine was the fourth son of Sir Charles Erskine, 1st Baronet, of Alva, Clackmannanshire and his wife Christian Dundas, daughter of Sir James Dundas, Lord Arniston. His older brothers included Robert Erskine, physician to Peter the Great.

He was educated at the High School of Edinburgh and studied law at the University of Edinburgh from 1693.[1] At the age of 20 he was a candidate for the office of one of the four Regents of the University of Edinburgh, and after an examination with several competitors obtained that appointment on 26 November 1700 until 17 October 1707. On 7 November 1707 he was appointed the first Professor of Public Law at the University, despite the protests of the council. He was at Utrecht in about 1710 and became a member of the Faculty of Advocates on 14 July 1711.[2]

Erskine was elected Member of Parliament for Dumfriesshire in 1722, 1727 and 1734, for the Dumfries Burghs in 1734, for the Tain Burghs in 1741. He was Solicitor General for Scotland from 2 June 1725, Lord Advocate from 20 January 1737 to 1742. He was raised as a Lord of Justiciary, and also to the bench on 23 November 1744 as Lord Tinwald. He was also Lord Justice Clerk from 15 June 1748 until his death.[1]

In 1749 he purchased Alva House from his nephew and enlarged and remodelled the property.[3] His Edinburgh property at this time (required to attend the Edinburgh courts) was at Mylne's Square, opposite the Tron Kirk 200m east of the courts.[4]

In 1755 he purchased Drumsheugh House west of Edinburgh. He commissioned James Adam to extend the property and refront in a more modern idiom.[5] The house was two storey and basement in form.[6] The house was demolished to create Drumsheugh Place.

He married Grizel Grierson, daughter of John Grierson of Barjarg on 21 December 1712,[1] through whom he inherited Barjarg Tower.

Erskine married as his second wife Elizabeth Maxwell, widow of Dr William Maxwell of Preston, Lancashire, and daughter of William Harestanes of Craigs, Kirkcudbright on 26 August 1753. He died at Edinburgh on 5 April 1763 leaving two sons by his first wife:

• Charles Erskine (1716–1749) - a lawyer, and MP for Ayr Burghs from 1747 to 1749.
• James Erskine, Lord Alva

Erskine's brother Sir John Erskine was also an MP.[1]

Charles Erskine, Lord Tinwald, features as a character in Andrew Drummond's fantasy novel, "The Books of the Incarceration of the Lady Grange (2016).

• An Historical Account of the Senators of the College of Justice of Scotland, by Sir David Dalrymple of Hailes, Bt., with some further editing and additions, Edinburgh, 1849.