William Erskine (General)
| Sir William Erskine, 1st Baronet | |
|---|---|
Sir William Erskine, 1st Baronet, from a print in the NPG.
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| Nickname(s) | Woolly |
| Born | 1719 England |
| Died | 19 March 1795 (aged 75–76) |
| Allegiance |
 Great Britain
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| Service/branch |
 British Army
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| Years of service | 1742–1795 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Commands held | 26th (Cameronian) Regiment of Foot |
| Battles/wars |
War of the Austrian Succession |
War of the Austrian Succession
Seven Years' War
American Revolutionary War
Lieutenant-General Sir William Erskine, 1st Baronet (1728 – 19 March 1795) was a British Army commander and the 1st Baronet of the Erskine of Torrie creation.
Erskine was the son of Colonel the Honourable William Erskine of Torrie, Deputy Governor of Blackness Castle, Linlithgowshire, and grandson of David Erskine, second Lord Cardross.
Erskine first married Magdalen Myrton, daughter of Robert Myrton of Gogar, and then Frances Moray, daughter of James Moray of Abercairny.
His eldest son by his second wife, Frances, William, the 2nd baronet was a cavalry officer who committed suicide in Lisbon, Portugal in 1813 after a mental breakdown. He had another son, James, who was an officer in the 133rd (Fraser's) Foot, and became baronet on his elder brother's death. His third son John, also became baronet, on the death of his brother James.
Erskine joined his father’s regiment the 7th Dragoons in 1742 and served in the War of the Austrian Succession, seeing action at the Battle of Fontenoy, then in the Seven Years' War. By March 1759 he was in Germany with the rank of Major in the 15th Light Dragoons, and was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the same regiment in 1762. Erskine performed exceptionally on the field at the Battle of Emsdorf and was able to present King George III with 16 colors captured by his regiment. For his prowess, Erskine was knighted.
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