The Four Jacobite Nobles · Jack of Spades
John Erskine, Earl of Mar
Duke of Mar
House of Erskine · 1675–1732
The Nobleman Who Raised the Jacobite Standard
John Erskine, Earl of Mar, was a Scottish aristocrat and political leader who became one of the most recognizable figures of the Jacobite Rising of 1715.
Before joining the Jacobite cause, Erskine held prominent positions within the British political establishment and served as Secretary of State for Scotland.
Following the accession of George I in 1714, Erskine turned toward the Stuart cause.
On September 6, 1715, he raised the Jacobite standard at Braemar, formally launching a rebellion intended to restore James Francis Edward Stuart to the throne.
Erskine assembled a substantial army of Highlanders and other supporters, but his campaign was undermined by indecisive leadership and the inconclusive Battle of Sheriffmuir.
Following the failure of the uprising, he fled into exile.
The Jacobite court granted him the title Duke of Mar, a title not recognized by the reigning British government.
Historical Legacy
John Erskine remains a central figure in the Jacobite Rising of 1715, representing the military and political effort to restore the exiled Stuart dynasty.
