Walter Erskine, Earl of Mar and Kellie (1865–1955)

The eldest son of Walter Erskine, 11th Earl of Mar and Mary Anne Forbes, he was educated at Eton and served as a 2nd lieutenant and then lieutenant in the Scots Guards from 1887–92.^[1][2]

He succeeded his father in 1888, and in 1892 married Lady Violet Ashley-Cooper, daughter of Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 8th Earl of Shaftesbury. They had three children:

• Elyne Violet Erskine (born-died 2 August 1893)
• Major John Francis Ashley Erskine, Lord Erskine (26 April 1895 – 3 May 1953)
• Captain Hon. Francis Walter Erskine (9 January 1899 – 1972)

He was a Scottish Representative Peer from 1892–1950, and held office as Lord Lieutenant of Clackmannanshire from 1898^[3] and Lord Clerk Register and Keeper of the Signet from 1936–44.^[4][5] He was also Hereditary Keeper of Stirling Castle,^[6] and Honorary Colonel of the 7th Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.^[7][8] He was successively Brigadier, Ensign, Lieutenant, and Captain in the Royal Company of Archers.^{[9][10][11][12][13]}

He was appointed a Knight of the Thistle in the 1911 Coronation Honours^[14] and was Chancellor of the Order from 1932–49.^[15][16][17] His son, John, having predeceased him, he was succeeded by his grandson, John Erskine, Earl of Mar and Kellie (1921-1993).