John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1675–1732)

John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1675–1732), also known as "Bobbing John," was a Scottish nobleman and Jacobite leader. He was the 6th Earl of Mar in the (pre-1707) peerage of Scotland and later recognized by Jacobites as the 11th Earl of Mar.

Mar began his career as a supporter of the Union of Scotland and England in 1707, being appointed Secretary of State for Scotland. Following Queen Anne's death and the accession of George I, Mar, feeling slighted and politically sidelined, became a key figure in the Jacobite cause.

In 1715, he raised the standard for James Francis Edward Stuart, the "Old Pretender," at Braemar, Aberdeenshire, signaling the start of the Jacobite rising of 1715. He was appointed commander-in-chief of the Jacobite army in Scotland. Despite initial successes, the rebellion ultimately failed, with the inconclusive Battle of Sheriffmuir in November 1715 proving to be a strategic setback.

Following the defeat at Sheriffmuir and the arrival of James Stuart in Scotland, Mar accompanied the Pretender back to France in February 1716. He was later stripped of his titles and estates by the British government for his role in the rebellion. He spent the remainder of his life in exile, largely in France and Italy, remaining involved in Jacobite intrigues but never again holding significant power.