Covenanter. The eldest son of James, 1st Lord Elphinstone (1557 - 1612), Elphinstone inherited his father's title in 1613 after a delay owing to the accusations which had been levelled against the 1st Lord. In 1634 he was imprisoned for his opposition to King Charles I (1600-49) and, worse, was found guilty of lying and was sentenced to death. However, he had many supporters and the poet William Drummond of Hawthornden (1585 - 1649) was one of several who interceded on his behalf. Eventually the King granted a pardon.
However, it was not long before Elphinstone opposed his King once again. He became an enthusiastic supported of the National Covenant and ally of Archibald Campbell, Marquis of Argyll (1598 - 1661). Elphinstone was at the centre of the political manoeuvrings of the 1640s between the Royalists, Covenanters and the English.