Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Erskine, Edward Morris
ERSKINE, EDWARD MORRIS (1817–1883), diplomatist, fourth son of David Montagu, second lord Erskine [q. v.], by Frances, daughter of General John Cadwallader of Philadelphia, was born on 17 March 1817. He entered the diplomic service as attaché to his father at Munich, and after filling subordinate posts was appointed secretary of legation at Turin in 1852. He was transferred to Washington early in 1858, and to Stockholm at the end of that year, in 1860 became secretary of embassy to St. Petersburg, and afterwards to Constantinople, and in 1864 was appointed minister plenipotentiary to Greece. During his stay there nothing of importance happened until the murder of Mr. Vyner, Mr. Herbert, and Mr. Lloyd, three English tourists, by Greek brigands, who had seized them on the plains of Marathon in 1870. His behaviour at this time was severely blamed by some English newspapers; he was said not to have exerted sufficient vigour, and to have unwisely rejected the overtures made by the brigands. Nevertheless the government approved of his action, for he was promoted to the legation at Stockholm in 1872, and made a C.B. in 1873. He remained at Stockholm until 1881, when he retired on a pension, and he died at Neville House, Twickenham, on 19 April 1883.
[Foreign Office List, and the newspapers of February, March, and April 1870, on the murders in Greece.]