Erskine, John (1695-1768)

Scottish jurist. He was called to the Bar in 1719. After a distinguished legal career, he was made professor of Scots law at the University of Edinburgh in 1757, and held this post until 1763, when he resigned. His two principal works are still among the authorities on Scots law: Principles of the Law of Scotland (1754) and Institutes of the Law of Scotland (1763).

Erskine, John (1879-1951)

US educator and novelist. His academic career was mainly spent as professor of English at Columbia, where he emphasized the study of the classics. In his satirical novels, he took legends, such as Helen of Troy, and put them into modern settings.

He was born in New York City and, as a youth, he showed serious talent as a pianist, studying under Edward MacDowell, but, after gaining his PhD from Columbia University, he became an English professor. His emphasis on the importance of studying the classic texts gave rise to the ‘great books’ programmes adopted by many educational institutions. He introduced Lafcadio Hearn's writings to the West and he coedited the Cambridge History of American Literature (1917-21). He kept up his interest in music, giving occasional public concerts, and he was active in the new Juilliard School of Music, serving as its president (1928-37). On retiring from Juilliard and Columbia in 1937, he devoted himself to writing critical and historical works and his memoirs.