Edward Morris Erskine

The Hon. Edward Erskine CB (28 March 1817 – 19 April 1883) was a British diplomat who was envoy to Greece and Sweden and Norway.

Early life

Edward Morris Erskine was born on 28 March 1817. He was the fourth son of David Erskine, 2nd Baron Erskine, and his wife Frances, daughter of General John Cadwalader.[1]

Career

He entered the diplomatic service as attaché to his father at Munich, and after various junior posts including attaché at Brussels he was appointed secretary of legation at Turin in 1852.[2] He was transferred to the same post at Washington, D.C. in May 1858[3] but moved again to Stockholm at the end of that year.[4] In April 1860 he was posted to St Petersburg, again as secretary of legation,[5] but moved on in November to the same role at Constantinople.[6] In 1864 he was appointed Minister to Greece.[7]

During his stay there nothing of importance happened until the Dilessi murders in 1870 (the seizure of Lord and Lady Muncaster and their party by brigands, who killed several of the hostages). Erskine's handling of the affair was much criticized, but in his temperate reaction he reflected the view of the British cabinet, which wished to avoid being pushed into Palmerstonian 'gunboat' diplomacy.
— Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

In 1872 Erskine was transferred to be Minister to Sweden and Norway.[8] His duties there included negotiation of a bilateral treaty on the extradition of criminals[9] (superseded by later European conventions, currently the European Arrest Warrant). He remained at Stockholm until 1881, when he retired on a pension.

Edward Erskine was appointed CB in 1873.[10]

Personal life

On 24 July 1847 Edward Erskine married Caroline, daughter of Robert Hamilton Vaughan and widow of Andrew Loughnan. They had three daughters and a son.[1]

She died on 23 October 1877. Erskine died at his home, Neville House, Twickenham, on 19 April 1883.[1]

References
  1. Stephens, H.M.; Matthew, H.C.G. "Erskine, Edward Morris". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/8854. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) The first edition of this text is available at Wikisource: "Erskine, Edward Morris" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
  2. "No. 21281". The London Gazette. 13 January 1852. p. 105.
  3. "No. 22138". The London Gazette. 11 May 1858. p. 2359.
  4. "No. 22213". The London Gazette. 28 December 1858. p. 5560.
  5. "No. 22377". The London Gazette. 17 April 1860. p. 1474.
  6. "No. 22451". The London Gazette. 27 November 1860. p. 4581.
  7. "No. 22853". The London Gazette. 13 May 1864. p. 2564.
  8. "No. 23880". The London Gazette. 30 July 1872. p. 3399.
  9. Treaty Between Great Britain And Sweden And Norway For The Mutual Surrender Of Fugitive Criminals, 26 June 1873 Archived 5 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine – United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
  10. "No. 23952". The London Gazette. 25 February 1873. p. 782.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Peter Scarlett		 Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the King of the Hellenes
1864–1872		 Succeeded by
Hon. William Stuart
Preceded by
George Jerningham		 Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to the King of Sweden and Norway
1872–1881		 Succeeded by
Sir Horace Rumbold, Bt
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