Clan Elphinstone
Template:Short descriptionTemplate:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Clan Elphinstone is a Lowland Scottish clan.[1]
History
Origins of the clan
The 'de Erth' family took their name from the lands of Airth which lie close to the barony of Plean in Stirlingshire.[1] This family probably erected the first Plean Castle.[1] The de Erth family ended in an heiress, and lands that were acquired by her husband near Tranent near East Lothian were probably named after the heiress's family.[1] The name first appears in about 1235 in East Lothian in a deed by Alanus de Swinton in which a mention is made of the name 'de Elfinstun'.[1] It is likely that de Swinton's son, John, who owned the lands, went on to become John de Elfinstun.[1]
There is a family tradition however, that claims that the family are descended from Flemish knights (or one knight) called Helphenstein.[1] Another theory suggests that the name is derived from Old English Alpins tun ("the farmstead of Alpin").[1]
14th, 15th and 16th centuries
Sir John de Elfinstun married Margaret of Seton who was a niece of Robert the Bruce.[1] One of John's descendants was William Elfinstun who became rector of Kirkmichael (St. Michael's Church) in Glasgow.[1] William studied Civil and Canon Law in Paris and he eventually became Professor of Law at that university.[1] He also became Bishop of Aberdeen in 1484 and later Lord High Chancellor of Scotland.[1] William later obtained a bull from Pope Alexander VI in 1494 for founding the University of Aberdeen.[1]
A cousin of bishop William was Sir Alexander Elphinstone who was created Lord Elphinstone by James IV of Scotland.[1] Alexander and the king were together killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.[2][1] Alexander's son, another Alexander Elphinstone, was killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547.[1]
In 1599 the fourth Lord Elphinstone was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Scotland.[1]
18th century and Jacobite risings
A cadet branch of the Clan Elphinstone were the Lords Balmerino.[1] They were staunch Jacobites and the sixth Lord Balmerino was captured after the Battle of Culloden and beheaded in August 1746.[1]
The eleventh Lord Elphinstone was lieutenant governor of Edinburgh Castle.[1]
19th and 20th centuries
One of the eleventh Lord's younger brothers was George Keith Elphinstone who was a distinguished naval officer.[1] He served on ships that protected the British shipping off the east coast of America.[1] He was created Baron Keith which was promoted to the rank of Viscount in 1814. The Viscount's nephew was William George Elphinstone who was a colonel at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.[1] He was later promoted to commander-in-chief of the Bengal army in 1837 and led the disastrous Afghan campaign of 1841.[1]
Clan Chief
The present Chief of Clan Elphinstone is Alexander Lord Elphinstone who succeeded his father in 1994 at the age of 14.
Clan Castles
See also
References
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- ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Way, George and Squire, Romily. Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages 130 - 131.
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