Robert ErskineFRS (1677–1718) was a Scottish physician remembered as an advisor to Tsar Peter the Great. He became one of the Tsar's most powerful advisors.[1] He was known in Russia as Robert Karlovich Areskin.
He engaged in medical studies in Edinburgh, Paris and Utrecht receiving a doctorate in medicine in the latter, and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1703. He arrived in Russia in the summer of 1704 originally as physician to Alexandr Menshikov but within 6 months had found favour in the court of the tsar. Head of the entire medical chancellery, he was the Tsar's chief physician. He was appointed the first director of the St. Petersburg Kunstkamera and library with Johann Daniel Schumacher as his assistant. He created Russia's first herbarium in 1709.[3]
In 1716, the Tsar elevated him to privy councillor.[1] In 1717 he escorted the Tsar on a trip to Germany, Holland and France.[4]
He died at Olonets near St Petersburg on St Andrew's Day, 30 November 1718 and was buried in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St Petersburg on 4 February 1719 being granted a full state funeral attended by the tsar.[5] Erskine was a part of masonic network of Scottish Jacobites that influenced the Russian court.[6] A memorial was erected to his memory in Alva churchyard in October 2008.[7]
Collis, Robert (2009) "Hewing the Rough Stone: Masonic Influence in Peter the Great's Russia, 1689-1725". In Andreas Önnerfors, Robert Collis (eds.) Freemasonry and Fraternalism in Eighteenth-Century Russia. Sheffield Lectures on the History of Freemasonry and Fraternalism. Volume Two. The University of Sheffield.
Jozien J. Driessen-Van het Reve (2006) De Kunstkamera van Peter de Grote. De Hollandse inbreng, gereconstrueerd uit brieven van Albert Seba en Johann Daniel Schumacher uit de jaren 1711-1752, p. 184. Hilversum, Verloren. ISBN 978-90-6550-927-
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robert, erskine, physician, robert, erskine, 1677, 1718, scottish, physician, remembered, advisor, tsar, peter, great, became, tsar, most, powerful, advisors, known, russia, robert, karlovich, areskin, life, edit, nbsp, memorial, erskine, alva, churchyardhe, b. Robert Erskine FRS 1677 1718 was a Scottish physician remembered as an advisor to Tsar Peter the Great He became one of the Tsar s most powerful advisors 1 He was known in Russia as Robert Karlovich Areskin Life Edit nbsp Memorial to Erskine old Alva churchyardHe was born on 8 September 1677 a younger son of Sir Charles Erskine 1st Baronet of Alva and his wife Christian Dundas of Arniston He was born in the family home of Alva House in Clackmannanshire His younger brother was Charles Erskine Lord Tinwald He was also a first cousin of John Erskine Earl of Mar 1675 1732 and Robert Dundas of Arniston the Elder and uncle to James Erskine Lord Alva 2 He engaged in medical studies in Edinburgh Paris and Utrecht receiving a doctorate in medicine in the latter and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1703 He arrived in Russia in the summer of 1704 originally as physician to Alexandr Menshikov but within 6 months had found favour in the court of the tsar Head of the entire medical chancellery he was the Tsar s chief physician He was appointed the first director of the St Petersburg Kunstkamera and library with Johann Daniel Schumacher as his assistant He created Russia s first herbarium in 1709 3 In 1716 the Tsar elevated him to privy councillor 1 In 1717 he escorted the Tsar on a trip to Germany Holland and France 4 He died at Olonets near St Petersburg on St Andrew s Day 30 November 1718 and was buried in the Alexander Nevsky Lavra in St Petersburg on 4 February 1719 being granted a full state funeral attended by the tsar 5 Erskine was a part of masonic network of Scottish Jacobites that influenced the Russian court 6 A memorial was erected to his memory in Alva churchyard in October 2008 7 References Edit a b Robert 2009 p 53 Clackmannanshire and the Ochils by Adam Swan ISBN 07073 0513 6 Robert Erskine Robert Erskine Robert Erskine An Iartochemist at the Petrine Court by Robert Collis Robert 2009 p 54 Search Results Sources EditCollis Robert 2009 Hewing the Rough Stone Masonic Influence in Peter the Great s Russia 1689 1725 In Andreas Onnerfors Robert Collis eds Freemasonry and Fraternalism in Eighteenth Century Russia Sheffield Lectures on the History of Freemasonry and Fraternalism Volume Two The University of Sheffield Jozien J Driessen Van het Reve 2006 De Kunstkamera van Peter de Grote De Hollandse inbreng gereconstrueerd uit brieven van Albert Seba en Johann Daniel Schumacher uit de jaren 1711 1752 p 184 Hilversum Verloren ISBN 978 90 6550 927 nbsp nbsp nbsp This Scottish biographical article related to medicine is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Erskine physician amp oldid 1164248982, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
