John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1675–1732)

John Erskine, the 23rd and 6th Earl of Mar and 1st Duke of Mar, KT (1675 – May 1732), was a prominent Scottish nobleman and a key figure in the Jacobite movement. He held the title of the 23rd Earl of Mar from the earldom's first creation and was the sixth earl in its seventh creation (of 1565). Erskine, often remembered for his political adaptability, navigated the complex and shifting landscape of early 18th-century British politics.

Born as the eldest son of Charles, the 22nd and 5th Earl of Mar, Erskine inherited estates that were facing financial challenges. In 1714, following the ascension of a new monarch, he found himself without official office and subsequently championed the Jacobite cause. He notably raised an army to contest the Hanoverian rule, leading his forces at the Battle of Sheriffmuir in November 1715. Despite having a numerical advantage, the battle concluded inconclusively. After the subsequent event at Fetteresso, Erskine sought refuge in France, where he spent his remaining years.

Mar's involvement in the Jacobite uprising led to a Writ of Attainder for treason in 1716, a mark of his deep commitment to his cause. This attainder was posthumously reversed in 1824. Erskine died at Aix-la-Chapelle in exile in 1732, leaving behind a legacy intertwined with the turbulent and transformative history of Scotland and the United Kingdom during the early 18th century.