John James Erskine

John James Erskine (1771-1833) was a British colonial administrator who served as a member of the governing council of Prince of Wales Island (Penang), Malaysia (1810-1826) and worked for the East India Company.

[2] At the age of 24 he was offered a job in the marine supplies section for the East India Company based on Prince of Wales Island.

He arrived on 18 September 1805 with Philip Dundas, newly appointed governor and other members of the new Fourth Presidency of India, including Thomas Raffles, later founder of Singapore.

[2] His first job was Assistant to the Superintendent and Storekeeper of Marine with an initial salary of 6,000 Spanish dollars plus 2% commission on sale of goods, and in 1811 he was appointed Warehouse Keeper.

[1] Mount Erskine, the hilly area north-west of George Town, Penang, and the street leading to it bear his name.