John Erskine
(1st Earl of Mar)

c.1510 - 1572

Regent of Scotland and Keeper of Edinburgh and Stirling Castles. A powerful man, Erskine was courted by both sides during the struggle between Mary of Lorraine and her Protestant nobles.

He was created Earl of Mar by Mary Queen of Scots (1565), but he was one of the nobles who demanded Mary's abdication only two years later. Mar was given custody of the young James VI, becoming Regent after the death of the Earl of Lennox (1571).

Use the tabs on the right of this page to see other parts of this entry