George Sinclair, 7th Earl of Caithness facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Sinclair
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| Earl of Caithness | |
Earl of Caithness Coat of Arms
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| Predecessor | John Campbell |
| Successor | John Sinclair, 8th Earl of Caithness |
| Died | 1698 |
| Noble family | Clan Sinclair |
| Father | Francis Sinclair of Northfield |
George Sinclair was an important Scottish nobleman who lived a long time ago. He was known as the 7th Earl of Caithness. An Earl is a high-ranking noble title, like a duke or a marquis. George Sinclair was also the leader, or chief, of the Clan Sinclair. This was a powerful Scottish clan from the Scottish Highlands. He was born in Keiss and passed away in 1698.
Contents
Early Life of George Sinclair
George Sinclair of Keiss was born into a noble family. His father was Francis Sinclair of Northfield. Francis was a younger son of the 5th Earl of Caithness, named George Sinclair. This means our George Sinclair was related to the main line of the Earls.
His cousin, George Sinclair, was the 6th Earl of Caithness. This 6th Earl was the son of John Sinclair, Master of Berriedale. Understanding these family connections helps explain why there was a big dispute later on.
The Fight for the Earldom
A Title in Trouble
The 6th Earl of Caithness, George Sinclair, was married to Mary Campbell. She was the daughter of a very important noble, the 1st Marquess of Argyll. However, they did not have any children. When the 6th Earl died in 1676, he had a lot of debt. To pay off these debts, he gave his lands and the title of Earl to a man named John Campbell of Glenorchy.
After the 6th Earl died, John Campbell was officially made the Earl of Caithness. But George Sinclair of Keiss, our main character, believed the title should be his. He thought he was the rightful heir.
The Battle of Altimarlach
The disagreement turned into a real conflict. On July 13, 1680, John Campbell of Glenorchy brought 800 men to the north. His goal was to force George Sinclair of Keiss out of the lands. George Sinclair was ready for him, waiting with 500 of his own men near Wick.
The Sinclairs, perhaps a bit too confident, attacked Campbell's larger force. They were defeated in a battle known as the Battle of Altimarlach. There's a famous story that so many Sinclairs were killed that the Campbells could cross the river without getting their feet wet!
The Decision of the Privy Council
Even though the Sinclairs lost the battle, the dispute wasn't over. In 1681, the Privy Council of Scotland made an important decision. The Privy Council was a group of advisors to the King, like a high court. They ruled in favor of George Sinclair of Keiss.
So, George Sinclair officially became the 7th Earl of Caithness. As a way to make up for it, John Campbell of Glenorchy was given a new title. He became the Earl of Breadalbane and Holland. This settled the long-running dispute.
The End of a Line
George Sinclair, the 7th Earl of Caithness, died in 1698. He did not have any children. This meant that the direct male family line from the 5th Earl of Caithness came to an end. The title of Earl of Caithness then passed to another branch of the Sinclair family.
The next Earl was John Sinclair, who became the 8th Earl of Caithness. He was from the Murkle branch of the family.
See also
