Sir James Erskine, 3rd Baronet

Lieutenant-General Sir James Erskine, 3rd Baronet (30 September 1772 – 3 March 1825) was a British Army officer who served through the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic Wars, briefly commanding a brigade during the Peninsular War. Joining the army in 1788, Erskine was promoted quickly and by 1794 was a lieutenant-colonel. With the 37th Regiment of Foot he fought through the Flanders campaign, seeing action at the battles of Le Cateau, Tournay, and Boxtel. Taking command of the 15th Light Dragoons in 1796, he commanded the regiment during the Anglo-Russian Invasion of Holland in 1799, being wounded at the Battle of Alkmaar while repulsing a cavalry charge.

After several years serving as a staff officer in Ireland and Scotland, Erskine was promoted to major-general in 1808 and a year later was sent to serve in the Peninsular War. Given command of a cavalry brigade, after one month his health deteriorated to such an extent that he was invalided back to Britain. His last service was on the staff of the Western District from 1811 to 1813, at which point he was promoted to lieutenant-general. His elder brother Sir William Erskine committed suicide in the same year, leaving him to inherit the baronetcy. An avid art collector, he bequeathed his pieces, known as the Torrie Collection, to the University of Edinburgh.