Alexander Erskine of Gogar

Alexander Erskine of Gogar (died 1592) was a Scottish landowner and keeper of James VI of Scotland at Stirling Castle.

After the death of his brother, John Erskine, Earl of Mar, Alexander was given the task of safeguarding the young king of Scotland at Stirling in 1572.

[1] With a role of such importance as the representative of the House of Mar while the Earl was still a minor, Alexander was offered a pension from England of £150 a year, for which he was recommended by Regent Morton in 1574 as "well friended, constant, of good credit and power."

Alexander and Argyll then left Stirling, both parties and the King's tutor George Buchanan having written letters to the Privy Council in Edinburgh to declare that all were reconciled and that nothing had changed that would affect the government of Scotland.

[7] Despite these letters, the effect of the change of hands at the Castle was to help the former Regent Morton regain some of his power, because previously he had lost access to the King's authority.

[9] A 17th century historian of the Douglas family David Hume of Godscroft noted the lack of evidence for Morton's involvement, and suggested that Erskine of Gogar was "a man of a good easie nature, and no ill disposition, ... nothing factious or malicious" but had been an instrument of others, firstly in giving access to the King to Morton's opponents at Stirling, and then "almost after the same manner" being turned out of the Castle himself.

Hume of Godscroft suggested, with no evidence but hearsay, that the Comptroller of the Exchequer William Murray of Tullibardine, the Earl of Mar's uncle, might have been behind the removal of Gogar from Stirling Castle and employed by Morton.