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Although we don't know his origins, the name Elphinstone is known as an Orkney Island name, and this may well be underlined by his apparent friendship with Peter Linklater, the Quartermaster, with whom he signed on board the Bounty on 29 Aug 1787.

At 36, he was not in the best of health. As first mate, he had pretty much resigned himself to the fact that he would never advance to higher rank.

At the time of the breakout of the mutiny, he was immediately secured in his hammock, and not released until he was ushered to the Launch. During the voyage of the Launch, he sided with Fryer in his disputes with Bligh.

Bligh insisted that Elphinstone was in good health when Bligh left Batavia, however within a fortnight, he and Linkletter had both died.