The grave of William Erskine, St John's Church, Edinburgh
He was born at Argyle Square in Edinburgh[1] the son of David Erskine, a lawyer and Clerk to the Signet, and his wife Jean Melvin. He attended the High School, then studied Law, receiving a doctorate from Edinburgh University.
He went to Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1804 where he was master in equity in the recorder's court.
In 1809 in Madras (now Chennai), Erskine married Maitland Mackintosh (1792-1861), daughter of Sir James Mackintosh and his first wife Katherine Stuart. 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.
He was removed from office in 1823 by Sir Edward West after being accused of defalcation (misappropriation of funds) and for many of his later years resided in Edinburgh, as well as Pau in South West France. He was Provost of St Andrews, 1836–1839.
william, erskine, historian, william, erskine, november, 1773, 1852, scottish, orientalist, historian, william, erskineborn, 1773, november, 1773edinburgh, scotlanddied28, 1852, 1852, aged, edinburgh, scotlandnationalityscottishacademic, backgroundeducationroy. William Erskine 8 November 1773 28 May 1852 was a Scottish orientalist and historian William ErskineBorn 1773 11 08 8 November 1773Edinburgh ScotlandDied28 May 1852 1852 05 28 aged 78 Edinburgh ScotlandNationalityScottishAcademic backgroundEducationRoyal High School EdinburghAlma materUniversity of EdinburghAcademic workDisciplineOrientalismLife Edit The grave of William Erskine St John s Church Edinburgh He was born at Argyle Square in Edinburgh 1 the son of David Erskine a lawyer and Clerk to the Signet and his wife Jean Melvin He attended the High School then studied Law receiving a doctorate from Edinburgh University He went to Bombay now Mumbai in 1804 where he was master in equity in the recorder s court In 1809 in Madras now Chennai Erskine married Maitland Mackintosh 1792 1861 daughter of Sir James Mackintosh and his first wife Katherine Stuart 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 Four of his sons entered the Indian Civil Service including Claudius James Claude Erskine 1821 1893 and Henry Napier Bruce Erskine 1831 1893 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 Baburnama the memoirs of Zehir Ed Din Muhammed Babur Emperor of Hindustan He was removed from office in 1823 by Sir Edward West after being accused of defalcation misappropriation of funds 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 1839 He died at 28 Regent Terrace on Calton Hill in Edinburgh 2 He is buried with his family on the lower south terrace of the churchyard of St John s Edinburgh References Edit Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1773 Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1852 Erskine William 1773 1852 Dictionary of National Biography 1st supplement London Smith Elder amp Co 1901 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Erskine historian amp oldid 1102217484, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
