ERSKINE, LOUIS [SSNE 4964]
Text source
Confusion surrounds the career of Colonel Louis Erskine. According to Ferguson, he began service in 1622 in charge of a company in the regiment of Colonel Brog. The same source then declares that on 28 November 1644, Erskine succeeded to Thomas Livingstone's command [confirmed 28 November 1645?] which would have made him a Colonel. However, on p.493 of this work, it appears that 'Loo Arskyne' did not receive his commission into the Dutch army [as Sergeant-Major] until 1 October 1655. In 1660 Louis Erskine certainly became Lietenant Colonel under Colonel Henderson. He succeeded to the command of this regiment in 1662. During the Anglo-Dutch war of 1665 Erskine commanded his regiment with Allan Coutts as Lt. Colonel and Henry Graham as Major. He received £1122 monthly pay. Erskine continued in his capacity as colonel until 1675 when his regiment was taken over by Sir Alexander Colyear.J. Ferguson, Papers Illustrating the History of the Scots Brigade in the service of the United Netherlands, 1572-1697 (Edinburgh, 1899), pp.xxxiv, 322-323, 328, 330, 467-469, 493-502, 526, 532 and 535; D. Dobson 'Scottish Soldiers in Continental Europe [part one] (St Andrews, 1997).
Service record
- THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE SCOTS BRIGADE
- Arrived 1622-01-01, as SOLDIER
- Departed 1675-12-31, as COLONEL
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY