Born on September 13, 1813, in Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland, Erskine read law in 1846.

[1] Erksine received a recess appointment from President Andrew Johnson on July 10, 1865, to a joint seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia and the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia vacated by Judge John Cochran Nicoll.

He was nominated to the same position by President Johnson on December 20, 1865.

He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 22, 1866, and received his commission the same day.

He was reassigned to serve only in the Southern District on April 25, 1882.