James Sinclair, 12th Earl of Caithness

James Sinclair, 12th Earl of Caithness (1766–1823) was a Scottish noble, Earl of Caithness and chief of the Clan Sinclair, a Highland Scottish clan.[1]

James Sinclair was born at Barrogill Castle (Castle of Mey) on 31 May 1766.[2] He was the son of Sir John Sinclair of Mey, Baronet who he succeeded in the baronetcy in 1774.[2] He succeeded as 12th earl of Caithness in 1789,[2] as nearest lawful male heir of William Sinclair, 2nd Earl of Caithness.[3] His claim to the peerage was sustained by the House of Lords.[3]

In 1811 he was appointed Deputy Postmaster General of Scotland in place of Francis Gray, 14th Lord Gray. Following his death on 16 July 1823[4] the post was filled by Sir David Wedderburn, 1st Baronet.[5]

He was lord-lieutenant of the county of Caithness and lieutenant-colonel of the Ross-shire militia.[2]

He married at Thurso Castle on 2 January 1784 Jane, second daughter of Alexander Campbell of Bareldine who was deputy governor of Fort George.[2] They had the following children:

  1. John Sinclair, Lord Berriedale who died in 1802 aged 14.[2]
  2. Alexander Sinclair, 13th Earl of Caithness.[2]
  3. Four other sons and three daughters.[2]

See also

References
  1. Saint-Clair, Roland William (1898). The Saint-Clairs of the Isles; being a history of the sea-kings of Orkney and their Scottish successors of the sirname of Sinclair. Shortland Street, Auckland, New Zealand: H. Brett. pp. 215-216. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. Anderson, William (1862). The Scottish Nation: Or The Surnames, Families, Literature, Honours, and Biographical History of the People of Scotland. Vol. 1. pp. 525–526.
  3. Henderson, John W.S (1884). Caithness Family History. Edinburgh: David Douglas. pp. 12-13.
  4. "James Sinclair, 12th Earl of Caithness". geni.com. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  5. Grant's Old and New Edinburgh vol.2 p.358
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