Thomas Erskine was the eldest surviving son of Sir Alexander Erskine of Gogar and Margaret Home, a daughter of George Home, 4th Lord Home and Mariotta Haliburton. Thomas was a school classmate and lifelong personal friend of James VI of Scotland. He was a server at the king's table, a "sewar". In 1585 he was made a Gentleman of His Majesty's Bedchamber. In November 1592 Erskine was identified with the friends of Duke of Lennox, Sir George Home, Colonel William Stewart, the Laird of Dunipace, and James Sandilands, as a supporter of the king's former favourite James Stewart, Earl of Arran, working for his rehabilitation to the disadvantage of the Chancellor, John Maitland and the Hamilton family. The English diplomat Robert Bowes called this group the "four young and counselling courtiers." In January 1593 James VI set a tax anticipating the expenses of the birth and baptism of Prince Henry and appointed Erskine Collector General of this tax. At the tournament during the baptism festivities, Erskine performed in a team with the King, dressed as Knights of Malta. James VI gave his courtiers gifts of jewelry at New Year. In January 1596 Erskine received a "tablet" or locket set with rubies and diamonds and a gold ring set with a table diamond. Erskine was with the king on the occasion of the Gowrie Conspiracy in 1600, when James was supposedly kidnapped by the Ruthven brothers at their house in Perth. He was afterwards awarded a third of the confiscated land of the Ruthvens and given the title Lord Erskine of Dirletoun in 1604. He was made a Privy Councilor in 1601 and accompanied the Duke of Lennox on a diplomatic visit to France. Thomas travelled with James to England when James ascended the English throne in 1603. Lady Anne Clifford described a visit to the king at Theobalds in May 1603, noting that the fashion of the court had changed, "we were all lowzy by sittinge in Sir Thomas Erskin's chamber." He was made Captain of the Guard and Groom of the Stool in 1604 and created Viscount Fenton in 1606. He acquired Kellie Castle from the 5thLord Oliphant in 1613 and was given the barony of Kellie. In 1615 he was made a Knight of the Garter and Earl of Kellie in March 1619. When King James died in March 1625 the Privy Council drafted a proclamation. Kellie reminded them that James had preferred the title "King of Great Britain", and he assured the council that using "King of England and Scotland" would not please the people of Scotland. He died intestate in London in 1639 and was buried at Pittenweem, Fife. Thomas's son Alexander predeceased his father in 1633. He was succeeded by his grandson, Thomas Erskine, 2nd Earl of Kellie
Family
The Earl of Kellie married three or four times. His first marriage, on 30 November 1587 was to Ann Ogilvie, daughter of Sir Gilbert Ogilvie, of Powrie. A younger brother, James Erskine, married Marie, a daughter of Adam Erskine, Commendator of Cambuskenneth on 17 May 1594. He married secondly in 1604 to Elizabeth Pierpoint, daughter of Sir Henry Pierpoint, Several sources note his third wife was Elizabeth Norreys, widow of Edward Norreys, following a letter of the Earl of Worcester. He married thirdly, or fourthly, the thrice-widowed Dorothy, daughter of Ambrose Smith of Cheapside.
