America and West Indies Station in November 1873, commanding officer of the corvette HMS Boadicea at Portsmouth in April 1878 and then commanding officer of the corvette HMS Garnet on the South East Coast of America Station in October 1878. Erskine was appointed Private Secretary to Lord Northbrook, First Lord of the Admiralty, in May 1880 and became Commodore on the Australia Station, with his broad pennant in the armoured cruiser HMS Nelson in January 1882. It was in this capacity that he announced that in order to provide support for the local people, the south coast of New Guinea would become a British protectorate and, in late 1884, he embarked on an expedition aboard the HMS Nelson to undertake proclamation and flag raising ceremonies, stopping at Port Moresby, Delena, Motu-Motu, Kerepunu, Argyle Bay, Stacey Island, Dinner Island and Teste Island. The expedition was joined by Charles Emanuel Lyne, a correspondent from The Sydney Morning Herald, and at least one photographer, to document and report on the events. Lyne's detailed reports were later published as a full account of the expedition. Senior command Promoted to rear admiral on 18 January 1886, Erskine became Junior Naval Lord under the third Gladstone ministry in February 1886 but left office six months later when the Government fell. He became Senior Officer, Coast of Ireland Station, with his flag in the battleship HMS Triumph, in 1888. Promoted to vice admiral on 14 February 1892, he significantly extended Venlaw that year adding an extra storey and a large south wing and turret. Erskine became Commander-in-Chief, North America and West Indies Station, with his flag in the cruiser HMS Crescent, in May 1895. Appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath on 22 June 1897 and promoted to full admiral on 23 August 1897, he joined a commission established to deal with fishing claims on the French Islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon in August 1898. Erskine was appointed First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to the King on 20 April 1901, promoted to Admiral of the Fleet on 3 October 1902 and installed as Deputy Lieutenant of Peeblesshire on 25 February 1907. He retired in December 1908 and died at his home, Venlaw in Peeblesshire, on 25 July 1911, aged 72. Family In 1885, Erskine married Margaret Eliza Constable, daughter of Reverend John Constable; they had one son and one daughter. References Sources External