John Erskine 2d (or 7th) earl of Mar

John Erskine Mar, 2d (or 7th) earl of 1558-1634, Scottish nobleman; son of the 1st (or 6th) earl. In 1578 he was persuaded by James Douglas, 4th earl of Morton , to assert his claims to Stirling Castle and the guardianship of the young James VI (later James I of England). Mar emerged in control of the king's person, while Morton attempted to recover his authority. After the rise of Esmé Stuart , duke of Lennox, and James Stuart , earl of Arran, Mar fell out of favor with the king. He participated in the capture of James in the raid of Ruthven (1582). After James's escape, Mar was received at court, but he was banished in 1584 and fled to England. In 1585 he joined the other banished Scottish nobles who invaded Scotland and overthrew Arran. Mar was made a member of the privy council. In 1601 he was sent as ambassador to England to offer secret assistance to the 2d earl of Essex in his rebellion. This was crushed before his arrival, and Mar spent his time negotiating the question of James's succession to the English throne. In 1603 he accompanied James to England and was made a member of the English privy council. From 1616 to 1630 he was lord high treasurer of Scotland.

Mar, John Erskine, earl of [S] (c.1510–72). Mar's grandfather died at Flodden. Mar commenced a clerical career but abandoned it when his two elder brothers died. He succeeded his father as Lord Erskine in 1555 and was recognized as the rightful earl of Mar in 1565. A member of the reforming party, he had custody of the infant James VI and was active against Mary. In 1571–2 he was regent, though real power was in the hands of Morton, and after his death his widow remained governess of the king until 1578. His son John was one of the leaders of the Ruthven raid in 1582 in which the young king was kidnapped, and was disgraced in 1584. But, unlike Gowrie, he worked his way back into favour and became one of James's closest friends. He followed the king to England in 1603 and was given the Garter. From 1616 to 1630 he was treasurer [S].

J. A. Cannon