The chief interest in Clackmannanshire was that of William Dalrymple, its hereditary sheriff. The interest of the Erskines, earls of Mar, was temporarily eclipsed by the attainder of Lord Mar after the Fifteen. Sir John Shaw, a government supporter, who held the estate of Sauchie in the county, was returned in 1722, but was defeated in 1734 by James Erskine, Mar’s brother, who had joined forces with the Squadrone and was supported by the Dalrymples.1 Shaw petitioned unsuccessfully alleging that

the proper returning officer, did ... tender a return of the petitioner’s name to the honourable Col. William Dalrymple ... but the said William Dalrymple in manifest violation of the right of elections, hath taken upon himself ... to return the Hon. James Erskine.2

In 1747 Thomas Erskine, Mar’s son, was returned unopposed as a government supporter.