Lord Elibank Explained

Lordship of Elibank
Creation Date:18 March 1643
First Holder:Patrick Murray, 1st Lord Elibank
Present Holder:Robert Francis Alan Erskine-Murray, 15th Lord Elibank
Heir Apparent:the Hon. Timothy Alexander Elibank Erskine-Murray
Subsidiary Titles:Baronet of Elibank
Family Seat:The Coach House
Motto:Virtute Fideque
(By virtue and faith)

Lord Elibank, of Ettrick Forest in the County of Selkirk, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1643 for Sir Patrick Murray, 1st Baronet, with remainder to his heirs male whatsoever. He had already been created a Baronet, of Elibank, in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia in 1628. His great-great-grandson, the fifth Lord, was an author and economist. He was succeeded by his younger brother, the sixth Lord, who was an admiral in the Royal Navy. On his death the titles passed to his nephew, the seventh Lord. He represented Peeblesshire in the House of Commons and also served as Lord Lieutenant of Peeblesshire.

His great-grandson, the tenth Lord, was also Lord Lieutenant of Peebleshire. In 1911 he was created Viscount Elibank, of Elibank in the County of Selkirk, in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. His eldest son and heir apparent, Alexander Murray, Master of Elibank, was a Liberal politician and was created Baron Murray of Elibank in 1912. However, he predeceased his father and the Viscount was succeeded by his younger son, the second Viscount. He sat as Member of Parliament for Glasgow St Rollox and served as Lord Lieutenant of Peeblesshire. On his death the titles passed to his younger brother, the third Viscount. He represented Kincardineshire in Parliament as a Liberal.

However, on his death in 1962 the viscountcy became extinct while he was succeeded in the baronetcy and lordship by his third cousin, the thirteenth Lord. He was the great-grandson of the Hon. James Murray, fourth son of the seventh Lord. He was succeeded his first cousin, the fourteenth Lord. He was the son of Robert Alan Erskine-Murray, uncle of the thirteenth Lord. the titles are held by his son, the fifteenth Lord, who succeeded his father in that year.The Honourable Alexander Murray of Elibank, fourth son of the fourth Lord, played a significant role in an abortive Jacobite conspiracy, in 1752, thereafter known as the Elibank Plot. He afterwards retired to France, where for some years he was, as "Count Murray", the representative of the Jacobite claimant "James III and VIII", known as the "Old Pretender", who created him Earl of Westminster (Letters Patent, August 12, 1759) in the Jacobite Peerage, with remainder to heirs male of the body of his father, the fourth Lord Elibank.

The family seat was Elibank Castle on the River Tweed just east of Walkerburn in the Scottish Borders but is now The Coach House, near Sunningdale, Berkshire.

Ancestors of the Lords Elibank

Lords Elibank (1643)

Viscount Elibank (1911)

Lords Elibank (1643; Reverted)

The heir presumptive is the present holder's brother, Hon. Timothy Alexander Elibank Erskine-Murray (b. 1967)
The heir presumptive's heir apparent is his son, Alexander Alan John Erskine-Murray (b. 2003)

Attribution