, baron of Dun, the ancestor of the preceding, and one of the protestant
, baron of Dun, the ancestor of the
preceding, and one of the protestant reformers in Scotland,
was born at the family-seat near Montrose, in 1508, or
1509. His father was John Erskiue, of Dun, a descendant
of the earls of Marr, and his mother was a daughter of
William, first lord Ruthven. He was educated most probably at the university of Aberdeen; and according to the
ancient custom of the nobility of Scotland, pursued his studies
for some time in one or other of the foreign universities.
Buchanan styles him “a man of great learning:
” and to
this character he is amply entitled, as we are informed he
was the first of his countrymen who patronized the study of
the Greek language, which was first taught by his means at
Montrose. In 1534, on returning from his travels, he brought
with him a Frenchman skilled in the Greek tongue, whom he
settled at Montrose, and upon his departure he liberally
encouraged others to come from France and succeed to his
place; and from this private seminary many Greek scholars
proceeded, and the knowledge of the language was gradually diffused through the kingdom. After his father’s
death, he was employed as the other barons or lairds then,
were, in administering justice in the county of Angus, to
which he belonged, and occasionally assisting in the meetings of parliament. He was besides almost constantly
chosen provost, or chief magistrate of the neighbouring
town of Montrose. At an early period of his life, he became a convert from popery, but the precise manner in
which his conversion was accomplished, is not known. He
was, however, a liberal encourager of those who became
converts, and especially those who suffered for their rehgiou. The castte of Dun was always a sanctuary to
protestant preachers a-.id professors, and here he appears
to have associated with a number of persons, some of high
rank, who strengthened each other in their principles, and
by their power and influence contributed much to the reformation in that part of the kingdom.